Mon Jun 5 3:01pm ET
Field Level Media
The Buffalo Bills broke ground on their new $1.54 billion stadium Monday, with NFL, state and local dignitaries on hand to mark the occasion.
It was an emotional day in the suburb of Orchard Park, where the Bills have played since 1973. Among the crowd to watch the first shovels turned were Mary Wilson, the widow of Bills founder Ralph Wilson.
The team and public officials agreed on a public-private financing plan to keep the Bills in a modern stadium in Orchard Park, across the street from the location of the original Rich Stadium, now called Highmark Stadium. The Bills announced Monday that Highmark, a Western New York insurance firm, will be the name sponsor of the new stadium when it opens in 2026.
The stadium financing includes $600 million from the state and $250 million in county funds, with the rest coming from the team.
Bills co-owner Terry Pegula told the crowd that it's time to add to the storied history of the team with the new stadium.
"So let me get this straight," he said. "We're going to build a stadium here, right? And we're going to tear down a stadium over there that's full of memories. So, we need to fill this stadium with more memories, and continue our legacy.
"We should remember the past, but embrace the building of our future."
Pegula teared up as he paid tribute to those who weren't there for the next step in Bills history -- his wife and co-owner Kim, who is battling health issues, and the 10 victims of last year's mass shooting at a Buffalo grocery store.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who was born about an hour south in Jamestown, N.Y., was among the dignitaries to grab a shovel. Of the 20 or so groundbreaking ceremonies he has attended, this one holds a special place for him, he said.
"None of them are more meaningful than being here today. This is an extraordinary community, they deserve an extraordinary stadium, and you're going to get it. ... Western New Yorkers have always shown that passion for football, for the Bills," he said.
"The Bills are now secured in Western New York. And that's something that we should all take great pride in."
Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook was nearly traded to the Miami Dolphins in March, but it didn't get done, and the Dolphins drafted Texas A&M running back De'Von Achane in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft a month later. Cook has been rumored to be cut or traded this offseason, with Miami being one of the top rumored suitors. It appears Miami made a run at him, but it's unclear whether the selection of Achane will prevent them from discussing a potential trade for Cook before the 2023 NFL season begins. According to Albert Breer, the trade was awfully close to happening and there is reported interest from both Cook and Miami at this point in the offseason. That said, the Dolphins may be out on trading for him but would sign him if released. This will be a story to follow as the offseason rolls on.
From RotoBaller
Free Agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is looking for a new home and the Dallas Cowboys have been rumored to be a potential suitor. However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the signing of Hopkins is "unlikely." The team is looking to extend CeeDee Lamb in the near future and traded for Brandin Cooks this offseason, so bringing in the 30-year-old receiver isn't a priority for America's team. Lamb and Cooks should be locked in as the top two wideouts for Dak Prescott, but it's unclear whether the No. 3 wideout will be Michael Gallup and 2022 third-round pick Jalen Tolbert. One of the two will have fantasy football intrigue, at least in deep leagues.
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Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White handled just 17 total touches in his rookie season as Josh Jacobs' backup, but he could be in line for a breather back role in 2023. According to Levi Edwards of Raiders.com, the Georgia product has lost weight and added speed and quickness heading into the 2023 season. White weighed 214 pounds and ran a 4.40 at the 2022 NFL Combine, so if he's actually gotten faster, it's an exciting development for the 23-year-old back. Either way, Jacobs remains the starter in 2023 after being franchise tagged and he'll likely command workhorse volume once again. White could see more touches to ease some of Jacobs' workload, but he won't be worth fantasy consideration unless Jacobs has to miss time.
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New England Patriots tight end Mike Gesicki has been utilized more as a wide receiver than a tight end throughout his career, and like many have speculated, the team is getting him work with the wideouts during organized team activities. According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, Gesecki was seen running drills with the Patriots' wide receivers while the other tight end on the roster worked on run blocking on a separate field. It looks like Hunter Henry will operate as the traditional tight end, while Gesicki could be split out wide and in the slot alongside wideouts Tyquan Thornton, JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, and Kendrick Bourne. If Gesicki can become one of the top two receiving options for Mac Jones, he'll have TE1 upside considering the scarcity of the position in fantasy football.
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Dynasty | The Colts have signed Breshad Perriman Dynasty Analysis: Perriman turns 30 in Sept. and hasn't been fantasy relevant since 2019 while with the Buccaneers, a career season in which he produced a 36/645/6 line. Unranked on DLF's receiver rankings, he won't be guaranteed to make it out of camp and, if he does, likely won't garner enough targets to be worthy of addition.
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels said that he isn't concerned about reports and rumors that quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (foot) might not be able to play this year. "I have no anxiety," McDaniels said. "You guys may have anxiety. I have no anxiety." Garoppolo signed a three-year, $72.75 million free-agent deal with the Raiders on March 17 and also signed a waiver/release because of his injured left foot. He had surgery on his foot after signing with the Raiders, and he hasn't been able to practice during OTAs. The Raiders are hoping to have Jimmy G available for the start of training camp, but they also aren't putting a timeline on his return. Veteran Brian Hoyer, who has plenty of experience in McDaniels' system from his time with the Patriots, has been taking first-team reps so far this offseason.
From RotoBaller
The Indianapolis Colts signed free-agent wide receiver Breshad Perriman to an undisclosed deal on Monday and waived wide receiver Tyler Adams in a corresponding move. The signing comes after the Colts worked out Perriman on Friday. The 29-year-old pass-catcher was a first-round pick (26th overall) by the Baltimore Ravens in 2015. Perriman only lasted two years in Baltimore and has played for four different NFL teams in his seven seasons so far. In the last two years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he's caught 20 of 37 targets for 277 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games (three starts). Perriman caught nine of 19 targets in 2022 for 110 yards and a score in 11 games. He'll provide veteran big-play depth behind Michael Pittman Jr. in Indy, but playing time will likely be limited.
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Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn (wrist), the eighth overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft, has played in only 16 games in his first two NFL seasons due to injury. But he's still only 23 and made NFL.com analyst and former NFL scout Bucky Brooks' all-breakout team for 2023. Horn led the Panthers with three interceptions and tied for the team lead with seven pass breakups last year despite missing the last two games with a broken wrist. He played in just three games his rookie year due to a broken right foot. The 23-year-old has been a full participant in workouts this spring, and he said he's "in a good spot right now." A fully healthy Horn in 2023 would be a huge boost to Carolina's secondary this year.
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The Buffalo Bills signed free-agent linebacker Leonard Floyd to an undisclosed one-year deal on Monday, according to sources. Floyd was originally the ninth overall pick of the Chicago Bears in 2016 out of Georgia. He spent the first four years of his career in Chicago before playing for the Los Angeles Rams the last three seasons, where he totaled 29 sacks and 99 solo tackles in 50 starts. The move to sign Floyd reunites him with Von Miller. The two pass-rushers combined for six sacks in the playoffs on their way to a Super Bowl title with the Rams two seasons ago. Floyd will bring more experience depth to an already impressive pass-rushing group in Buffalo, and he hasn't missed a regular season game since 2017.
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Washington Commanders tight end Cole Turner put on a show at last year's training camp and is once again impressing the coaching staff during offseason workouts this year as he looks to earn himself a bigger role in 2023. Turner was a fifth-round selection out of Nevada last year, but he played in only 10 games (two starts) and caught two of nine targets for 23 yards in his first NFL season. Logan Thomas is the team's top pass-catching tight end, but he hasn't been able to stay healthy consistently, so there could be opportunity behind him for Turner, John Bates and rookie Armani Rogers. The 23-year-old will need to continue developing, but he could be one to watch in fantasy leagues if Thomas misses more time with injuries in 2023.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders rookie running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. is impressing the coaching staff with his development so far this offseason. The sixth-round pick became one of the best ball-carriers in program history at Kentucky, and he has risen to the challenges that the team has given him in six organized team activity practices. "Chris is a hardworking kid," offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy said. "He takes a tremendous amount of pride in everything that he does, and I think right now he's in a good place." Pro Football Focus graded Rodriguez as the best running back in the SEC last year, and he averaged 6.2 yards per carry in his collegiate career. While buried on Washington's depth chart, his job is to make the most of his limited reps. The 22-year-old has impressed with his pass-catching skills, but for now he's just an RB to keep an eye on.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running backs Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson are at the top of the team's RB depth chart, with Jonathan Williams operating as the No. 3 option. Meanwhile, rookie sixth-rounder Chris Rodriguez Jr. is just trying to get as many repetitions as possible heading into his first NFL season. Williams may have to hold off Rodriguez and Jaret Patterson for touches in 2023 behind Robinson and Gibson, but the 29-year-old can also contribute on special teams. In his second year with Washington in 2022, Williams had 37 carries for 152 yards and caught seven passes for 40 yards in 13 games (two starts). Unless one of Robinson or Gibson miss time with an injury, Williams will remain off the fantasy radar this year.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. was expected to be released or traded this offseason. Despite that, Wilson remains on the roster and says he'd like to remain with the organization. The Dolphins signed Wilson to a three-year, $22 million deal in 2022. He was expected to be a key part of the offense, but the Dolphins traded for superstar wideout Tyreek Hill during that same offseason. After that, Wilson lost his role on the team and was hardly involved last season. He finished with 12 receptions, 136 yards, and zero scores in 15 games in 2022. It's likely that the Dolphins would've cut Wilson, but he's owed $5 million guaranteed on his $7 million base salary in 2023. That being said, the Dolphins would probably prefer to trade Wilson, but clearly don't have too many interested parties. The expectation is that Wilson is going to compete with Braxton Berrios and Chosen Anderson for the No. 3 receiver role this upcoming season. It's hard to imagine Wilson having any fantasy value while in Miami.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney could very well end up being the No. 1 wideout for this offense. The departure of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman leaves plenty of room for Toney to step up. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy recently praised the 24-year-old wideout. Toney didn't do much with the Chiefs last season, but he's a former first round pick with a ton of potential. He played well in the postseason for the Chiefs and appears to be meshing well with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs don't have a ton of reliable options on offense outside of Travis Kelce. That means, Toney could end up being heavily targeted, which could result in a breakout campaign. Fantasy managers should consider Toney a sleeper option heading into next season.
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Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has been receiving first-team reps with the offense during OTAs. The Lions selected Gibbs with the 12th overall pick during this year's draft. He was expected to split the first-team reps, but now the rookie has a head start to the starting job. Fellow running back David Montgomery (leg) is sidelined, so Gibbs is getting all the starter reps. That being said, Gibbs is likely to be the Week 1 starter, which is only going to increase his fantasy value.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (knee) has been practicing in OTAs without any issues. That's great news after the 24-year-old suffered a sprained MCL during last season's regular season finale. Luckily, it doesn't look like this is an issue that is going to cost Freiermuth any time this season. He finished with 63 receptions, 732 yards, and two touchdowns in 16 games last season. It might be difficult for him to beat those numbers with added competition at tight end. The Steelers drafted tight end Darnell Washington in the third round of this year's draft. The expectation is that both players will be involved, but Freiermuth might see a dip in production compared to last season.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Randall Cobb inked a one-year deal with the team this offseason. With New York adding Aaron Rodgers in April, many felt the club signed Cobb solely to appease the future Hall of Fame signal-caller. However, while that may be partially accurate, Rich Cimini of ESPN reported that Cobb "is very much part of the receiver rotation." The 32-year-old entered the league in 2011 and has totaled 625 catches, 7,585 yards, and 53 touchdowns in 155 games, mostly with the Packers. He's battled injuries over the years and is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career. But Cimini labeled Cobb the "only pure slot receiver on the roster" while mentioning his longstanding relationship with Rodgers. Of course, Cobb's best days are probably well behind him. That said, if he can stay healthy, he could easily have a few productive fantasy showings in 2023-24. On the other hand, the veteran likely won't be a consistent performer, considering the Jets' depth at the position.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb won't let extension discussions impact his performance. "I'm not even distracted," the wideout said. "The money, definitely worried about it, but it's not something that's on my mind every day or when I come to the building. It's really all about coming in, showing my worth, and letting everything else handle itself." In 49 regular season games since entering the league, Lamb compiled 260 catches for 3,396 yards and 20 touchdowns. He had the best year of his career in 2022, so it wasn't shocking when Dallas picked up his fifth-year option in April. That said, Ezekiel Elliott and Dalton Schultz are no longer on the team. The Cowboys also added Brandin Cooks in the offseason, so the offense will certainly look different. However, Lamb is expected to remain the top producer for Dallas this season and has an excellent chance of being a top-five fantasy receiver.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent quarterback Tom Brady told Sports Illustrated that he won't un-retire. "I'm certain I'm not playing again, so I've tried to make that clear and I hate to continue to profess that," said Brady. "I've already told people that lots of times." He later commented that being involved as an owner is a "dream come true." Many have speculated that the 45-year-old could be back under center in 2023-24 as a member of the Raiders, especially if he successfully purchases a piece of the franchise. Talk about Brady's potential comeback picked up more steam after it was reported Jimmy Garoppolo (foot) hadn't passed a physical. That said, it sounds like the multi-time Super Bowl winner is done playing, although most won't believe it until he isn't on the field this season.
From RotoBaller
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, defensive tackle Ed Oliver agreed to a four-year, $68 million ($45 million guaranteed) extension with the Bills. The 2019 No. 9 overall pick totaled 151 tackles (96 solo), 14.5 sacks, 11 passes defensed, and four forced fumbles in his first four seasons as a professional (62 games). He would have been playing on the fifth year of his rookie deal. However, Oliver will stay in Buffalo, where he's expected to remain a vital component of a potent Bills defense.
From RotoBaller