Per the team's transaction log, the Cleveland Browns have signed fourth-round running back Dylan Sampson and second-round linebacker Carson Schwesinger to their rookie contracts. Schwesinger will make $11.8 million over his four-year deal, while Sampson is set to make $5.13 million over his. Sampson, 20, broke out in his final season at Tennessee with a stellar 1,491 yards and 22 TDs over 258 carries, adding another 20 catches and 143 yards through the air. He took home SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Schwesinger, on the other hand, was a Butkus Award finalist (nation's best linebacker) and ranked third in the FBS with 136 total tackles. Sampson's path to playing time is a little murkier than Schwesinger's, as the latter should push for immediate snaps in the Browns' linebacker room. Still, both players stand to make an impact on a rebuilding Cleveland roster in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Per the team's transcript on Thursday, San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak noted that wide receiver Jauan Jennings still views himself as the No.1 guy in San Francisco. Specifically, Kubiak was asked if Jennings would resume WR1 duties for the team with uncertainty surrounding teammate Brandon Aiyuk's (knee) status. "I think, if you ask Jauan, he says 'I'm No. 1," he replied. "And that's his mindset, and that's why we love Jauan." The 27-year-old was an afterthought in fantasy drafts last summer, but injuries opened up opportunity, and the former seventh-round pick ran with it. Jennings led all 49ers pass-catchers not named George Kittle in receptions (77), yards (975), and touchdowns (six). He may have to stave off a second-year ascension from fellow wideout Ricky Pearsall, but Jennings should again have a shot to be productive in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Buffalo Bills rookie fourth-round defensive tackle Deone Walker (back) is feeling great despite playing last year with a back injury, but the Bills are playing it safe and easing him into rookie minicamp. "I had a pars defect in my back," Walker said. "I didn't know about it until after the season, really until the combine. We didn't really know what it was, but I feel a 100% right now." While the former Kentucky product wasn't always on the field with his fellow rookie teammates, he said he got in a lot of drill work and was putting in the mental reps while learning the playbook. The 21-year-old is a beast of a human being at 6-foot-7, 331 pounds. He was much more productive for the Wildcats when he was fully healthy in 2023, and he's expected to begin his NFL career as more of a rotational interior defensive lineman in Buffalo.

From RotoBaller

Now that quarterback Derek Carr (shoulder) has announced his retirement, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport writes that it sets the stage for rookie second-round quarterback Tyler Shough to be the team's eventual starter in 2025. Shough's stock for his rookie campaign was already rising with Carr's availability in question for 2025 due to a shoulder injury, but now Carr is out of the picture completely. The 25-year-old Shough will be competing primarily with Spencer Rattler, who completed just 57% of his passes while throwing four touchdowns and five interceptions in his rookie season in 2024. Even if the Saints give Shough a little more time to develop and name Rattler the starter for Week 1, it seems likely that Shough will be starting games in the Big Easy sooner than later in 2025. Shough is old for a rookie and has plenty of experience, making him the current favorite over Rattler for QB1 duties.

From RotoBaller

The New Orleans Saints announced on Saturday that quarterback Derek Carr (shoulder) is retiring. Carr experienced pain in his right shoulder in March while ramping up his preparation for the 2025 season, and medical scans showed that he was dealing with a labral tear and also had significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff. Surgery was an option, which would have knocked him out for all of 2025, but there still wasn't a guarantee that he'd return to the same level of strength, function and performance. After discussing with his wife, Heather, Carr has decided to hang up his cleats after 11 seasons in the NFL. In 169 regular-season starts, Carr made four Pro Bowls and threw for 41,245 yards, 257 touchdowns and 112 interceptions, with all but two of his seasons coming with the Raiders. With Carr now out of the picture in the Big Easy, second-round rookie Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler will battle for the starting gig in training camp.

From RotoBaller

New Orleans Saints QB Derek Carr officially announced his retirement from the NFL Saturday, May 10, according to a press release from the team.

Fantasy Spin: Carr had been in jeopardy of missing the upcoming season after experiencing pain in his right shoulder while throwing in late March, on the heels of having had his 2024 campaign cut short due to a concussion and left hand injury. Eventually, it was revealed that Carr had a torn labrum and had significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff. Surgery had been under consideration but there was no guarantee that the 34-year-old veteran would have been the same caliber of player if he had chosen to continue his career. QBs Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener and rookie Tyler Shough will battle for the Saints' starting job but none of these options should be considered as anything more than low-end QB2 options in deeper fantasy leagues at this point.

From TheHuddle

The San Francisco 49ers signed offensive lineman Andre Dillard, cornerback Dallis Flowers and offensive lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere to undisclosed one-year deals on Friday, according to NBC Sports Bay Area's Jennifer Lee Chan. Dillard appeared in 10 games (no starts) for the Green Bay Packers in 2024 but was unable to play in the wild-card playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles due to a concussion. The 29-year-old offensive lineman was the 22nd overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft by the Eagles out of Washington State, but he'll now compete for a reserve tackle role in the Bay Area for the 2025 campaign. Dillard spent the first three years of his NFL career in Philadelphia before joining the Tennessee Titans in 2023 and the Packers a season ago.

From RotoBaller

The San Francisco 49ers waived former second-round defensive end Drake Jackson (knee) with a failed-physical designation on Friday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Jackson continues to rehab a knee injury but is expected to be cleared by the start of training camp this summer. The Niners also waived offensive lineman Jalen McKenzie and cornerback Tre Tomlinson after signing offensive linemen Andre Dillard and Nicholas Petit-Frere and cornerback Dallis Flowers. Jackson, 24, the 61st overall pick in 2022 out of USC, missed the final 12 games of the 2023 season, including the postseason, and all of the 2024 campaign due to his knee injury. In his first two seasons before the injury, he had only 21 tackles (12 solo), six sacks, five tackles for loss, nine QB hits, an interception and nine pass breakups in 23 games (no starts).

From RotoBaller

Former Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants linebacker Jaylon Smith, who last played in the NFL in 2023, is taking part in the Las Vegas Raiders' minicamp this weekend on a tryout basis, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Smith was a second-round selection (34th overall) in 2016 out of Notre Dame and had 100-plus total tackles in three of his first four NFL seasons with Dallas, earning his lone Pro Bowl selection in 2019. He has bounced around the league and dealt with injuries since leaving the Cowboys, but he did have 88 total tackles (46 solo) and a sack in 13 games (11 starts) with the Giants in 2022. He only played in one game with Vegas in 2023 and was briefly on the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad last year, but he didn't see any action. The 29-year-old would give the Raiders some additional linebacker depth if he reunites with them.

From RotoBaller

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Friday that they signed third-round rookie running back Kale Johnson to his four-year deal. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Steelers took Johnson out of the University of Iowa with the 83rd overall pick. "Really explosive running back that we spent some time with on a 30 visit here," said offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. "One of the more instinctive backs that I've watched in a couple of years coming out of the draft." In 35 career games (22 starts) for the Hawkeyes, Johnson had 508 carries for 2,779 yards and 30 touchdowns, adding 29 catches for 240 yards and two touchdowns. The 21-year-old stands at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds and is a big bruising back with plenty of big-play potential. Johnson figures to eventually supplant Najee Harris as the Steelers' lead back after Harris left in free agency this offseason.

From RotoBaller

The Atlanta Falcons signed rookie first-round linebacker Jalon Walker to his four-year deal on Friday, the team announced. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it's estimated to be $20.56 million in total value. He would carry salary cap number of $3.74 million this year before topping out at $6.54 million in 2028. In addition to Walker, rookie safety Xavier Watts, defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. and offensive tackle Jack Nelson signed their rookie deals. Atlanta took Walker with the 15th overall pick in this year's draft out of Georgia. It remains to be seen if the Falcons will use the 6-foot-1, 243-pounder as an inside linebacker or as a pass-rushing outside linebacker in his first year in the NFL. In 11 starts with the Bulldogs in 2024, the 21-year-old had 60 tackles (10.5 for loss), 6.5 sacks and two pass breakups.

From RotoBaller

The New York Giants released wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey on Friday, a source told The Athletic's Dan Duggan. Humphrey will head right back to the free-agent market after signing with the G-Men in late March. Humphrey posted career-highs in catches (31), targets (45) and receiving yards (293) while catching one touchdown pass in 17 regular-season games (seven starts) in his second year with the Denver Broncos in 2024. The 27-year-old was set to serve as wideout depth in the Big Apple this year, but he has lost his roster spot after the Giant recently signed five undrafted rookie free-agent wideouts. Humphrey should latch on with another team as receiver depth. In six NFL seasons, Humphrey has produced only 62 receptions for 770 yards and seven touchdowns on 92 targets over 58 games played (23 starts).

From RotoBaller

While searching for a wide receiver, the Dallas Cowboys looked into a trade for Baltimore Ravens wideout Rashod Bateman, sources told FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. The talks between the two teams didn't go far, though, and Dallas ultimately ended up acquiring pass-catcher George Pickens after this year's NFL draft. Bateman attracted interest from a receiver-needy team after a career year in 2024 in which he caught 45 of his 72 targets for 756 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (14 starts). It was nice to see from the 25-year-old former first-rounder, but fantasy managers probably shouldn't expect more growth in 2025, especially not in the touchdown department. The Ravens remain a run-first offensive operation, and the addition of veteran DeAndre Hopkins won't help Bateman's cause. Zay Flowers should once again lead Baltimore in targets if he stays healthy.

From RotoBaller

Chicago Bears rookie first-round tight end Colston Loveland (shoulder) has been unavailable during practice during rookie minicamp while rehabbing from surgery that he had on his shoulder in January. While he's unavailable for on-field work, Loveland is focusing on the mental side of things, learning the offensive scheme and developing chemistry with quarterback Caleb Williams. The 21-year-old 10th overall pick in this year's NFL draft is expected to increase his activity by the time mandatory minicamp rolls around early next month, and he should be fully ready to go by training camp this summer as he enters his first year in the NFL. The Bears still have Cole Kmet at the position, but the 6-foot-6, 260-pound Loveland could be Chicago's top pass-catching TE by season's end. As he shares playing time with Kmet in Year 1, fantasy managers should temper expectations in 2025.

From RotoBaller

The Minnesota Vikings have signed wide receiver Tai Felton, defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, linebacker Kobe King, and tight end Gavin Bartholomew to their rookie deals on Friday. As for Felton, his contract is a four-year, $6.13 million agreement after the team selected him with the final pick of the third round of April's draft. He'll join one of the better WR corps in Minnesota alongside starters Jalen Nailor, Jordan Addison, and Justin Jefferson. Furthermore, tight end T.J. Hockenson poses a decent target threat at tight end. The Maryland alum has a ways to go before he sees playing time, but he's uber-athletic (4.37 40-yard dash), and it wouldn't be surprising to see him surpass Nailor in the pecking order in due time. Felton had a strong final season at Maryland (94/1,124/9).

From RotoBaller

Per the team's transaction logs, the Houston Texans have signed third-round wide receiver Jaylin Noel to a four-year, $6.46 million deal. Noel was the No. 79 overall pick and the second of two Iowa State wideouts selected by the Texans, joining second-rounder and fellow Cyclone Jayden Higgins. With the news that WR Tank Dell (knee) will likely miss the 2025 season, the door is open for both pass catchers to compete for snaps and impact the field. Veteran wideout Christian Kirk does pose a threat and significant target competition. Particularly for Noel, who profiles more like Kirk, considering he operated out of the slot in college. However, the rookie bolsters much more juice than the veteran (4.39 40-yard dash) and should eventually make his way to the starting roster. He caught 80 balls for 1,194 yards last season (eight TDs) and is also a seasoned returner.

From RotoBaller

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the New England Patriots have signed rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams to an undisclosed contract. The 22-year-old was selected with the fifth pick in the third round of April's draft, and projects to immediately compete for snaps in a Patriots' wide receiver corps that offers little behind veteran Stefon Diggs (knee). While Diggs is reportedly working back quickly from a torn ACL, Williams offers lethal playmaking ability as a deep threat. He gives New England's offense a new dimension as they continue to build around young signal-caller Drake Maye. Despite the Washington State product's more diminutive stature, he spent most of his time out wide during his final season in college. It seems likely he'll move into more of a slot role in the NFL, but it shows his versatility and only stands to benefit him as he adjusts to the pros.

From RotoBaller

ESPN.com's Daniel Oyefusi reports that, per general manager Andrew Berry, it's becoming "increasingly unlikely" that the team will re-sign running back Nick Chubb, notably after they drafted two rushers in April's draft. "I wouldn't rule anything out, but I would say that it's probably increasingly unlikely," said Berry. The Browns' GM also noted that Jerome Ford will play a role. This was the expectation after Cleveland selected Ohio State's Quinshon Judkins in the second round, and Tennessee's Dylan Sampson in the fourth, and now it's all but confirmed. Aside from his injury-marred seasons, Chubb had a fantastic run as a Brown. If this is it for him at that destination, he'll end his tenure as the organization's third-leading rusher (6,843 yards). It remains to be seen if he'll find work again in 2025, though it seems likely he will at some point.

From RotoBaller

The New Orleans Saints are hosting free-agent wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones for a tryout during minicamp, according to NOF's John Hendrix. Peoples-Jones totaled just 155 yards through 15 games in 2023, and he spent all of last season on the Detroit Lions' practice squad. However, we've seen glimpses of upside from the Michigan product before. He delivered a career year with the Cleveland Browns in 2022, catching 61 of 96 targets for 839 yards and three touchdowns. He has previously served as a big-play threat, making him an intriguing candidate to replace Marquez Valdes-Scantling in New Orleans. Valdes-Scantling, who landed with the Seattle Seahawks this offseason, caught numerous deep passes from Derek Carr last season, allowing the Saints to strike quickly with big chunk plays. Peoples-Jones can provide a similar spark, but even if he makes the team, he'll merely fill a depth role behind Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Brandin Cooks.

From RotoBaller

The Miami Dolphins and first-round defensive tackle Kenneth Grant agreed to a four-year rookie deal on Friday, a source tells ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Dolphins decided to beef up the interior of their defensive line with the 13th overall pick in this year's NFL draft by taking Grant out of Michigan. The 21-year-old is big and powerful at 6-foot-4, 330 pounds, but he's also extremely athletic and can succeed while being double-teamed. Grant can help bolster Miami's rush defense while also being disruptive in the backfield because of his quickness and athleticism. In his final season with the Wolverines in 2024, Grant had 32 tackles, three sacks and seven tackles for loss. He will certainly help fill the void on the interior of Miami's D-line after Christian Wilkins left last season.

From RotoBaller