QB Zach Wilson waits for trade, not at Jets' workouts
There has been no traction gained in trade talks with teams interested in Wilson, Douglas said Friday at his pre-draft news conference. But Wilson is still hoping to play elsewhere next season and didn't report to the start of the Jets' offseason program.
"I think it's each player's choice whether they're going to be here for phase one," Douglas said. "These are all voluntary. There are quite a few players that haven't come for the first week so, look, that's a decision that Zach has to make."
Douglas granted Wilson's request for permission to seek a trade in February before New York added former Giants backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor to back up Aaron Rodgers.
New York took Wilson with the No. 2 overall pick in 2021, and he has a record of 12-21 as an on-again, off-again starter for three seasons.
Rodgers is coming back from a torn Achilles to be the starter in 2024.
Douglas signaled during the NFL Scouting Combine in February that Wilson's time with the franchise likely was over.
"I've had good conversations with his agent, Brian Ayrault," Douglas said. "Where we are exactly, we've given them permission to talk to other teams about a trade. ... Other than that, there's nothing else to report."
Wilson, 24, was 4-7 in 2023 and passed for 2,271 yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. Through 34 games (33 starts), he has completed 57.0 percent of his passes for 6,293 yards, 23 TDs and 25 picks.
Of the five first-round quarterbacks from the 2021 draft, only No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars will be his original team's starter in 2024.
The San Francisco 49ers drafted Trey Lance third overall and traded him to the Dallas Cowboys last August. Justin Fields was the No. 11 pick by the Chicago Bears and Mac Jones went 15th to the New England Patriots. The Steelers acquired Fields last month and Jones was traded to be Lawrence's backup with the Jaguars.
Former Bears, Colts GM Bill Tobin dies at 83
He later worked as a scout from 2003-22 for the Cincinnati Bengals, who announced Tobin's passing on Friday.
"He was a true NFL success story," Bengals president Mike Brown said. "He was a good person and I considered him a good friend. With Bill, I respected everything he said. I just took it as a given. He had an eye for players and what they would develop into. If he said the guy was a good player, then he was a good player; that's all I would need to know. We will miss him."
Tobin served as GM of the Bears from 1987-92 and held the same role with the Colts from 1994-96. He was the Detroit Lions' director of player personnel from 2001-02.
"Rest in peace, Bill Tobin, our GM from '94-96," Colts owner Jim Irsay wrote on Twitter. "Bill was a tough, old-time football man, starting as a player in the old AFL. He lived a magical life associated with the game he loved, and our league will miss him. My love and prayers for Bill's family."
During his 27 years in NFL front offices with Chicago, Indianapolis and Detroit, Tobin's teams drafted eight future Hall of Famers, according to the Bengals' news release. That includes two Colts' first-rounders, running back Marshall Faulk in 1994 and receiver Marvin Harrison in 1996.
Tobin's son, Duke, has been the Bengals' director of player personnel since 1999.
Tobin's brother, Vince, was the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals from 1996-2000.
Bill Tobin was a running back at Missouri and was drafted in the 14th round by the San Francisco 49ers in 1963. He played in 10 games (eight starts) with the Houston Oilers in 1963, rushing for 271 yards and four touchdowns and catching 13 passes for 173 yards and one score.
2024 NFL Draft: 10 sleepers to know
A late-round pick or a highly coveted undrafted free agent can slip through the cracks, and history shows draft position isn't the only factor in a prospect becoming a reliable pro.
Sometimes it's a receiver who tested poorly but had all the intangibles, like recent rookie receiving yardage record-setter Puka Nacua (Rams).
Sometimes it's a quarterback without a strong arm or standout athleticism, but great decision-making and a feel for running the offense, like Brock Purdy (49ers).
Among our favorite sleepers we project as late-round picks or undrafted free agents are these 10 names to know:
Jaden Crumedy, DT/DE, Mississippi State
Injuries limited Crumedy over the past couple years, but when healthy he was one of the more dynamic big men among college defensive lines. Despite being 300 pounds he regularly lined up over tackles early in his career. Clearly, the tools are present as the foundation for a great find.
Sataoa Laumea, OG, Utah
A college tackle who figures to kick inside as a pro, Laumea's length, strength and tenacity fit lead to a projection of long-time starter at guard. There will be some projection involved for teams, but he could easily outplay a fourth- or fifth-round draft slot.
Tip Reiman, TE, Illinois
Reiman's modest production won't stand out amongst tight end prospects, but a blazing 4.64 40-yard dash at 6-foot-5 and 271 pounds set him apart from his peers at the position. In a tight end class lacking depth, he figures to be one of the more interesting mid rounders at the position.
Travis Clayton, OT, Basingstoke RFC
A former rugby player and boxer, Clayton's special pro day gives him a legitimate chance to get picked. He ran a 4.82 40-yard dash at 6-7, 301 and has 35-inch arm length. Jake Witt was drafted in the seventh round last year with size and speed, but less length.
Eric Watts, DE, Connecticut
One of the freakiest height-weight-speed athletes in the draft, Watts has near 36-inch arms at 6-6, 274 and ran in the 4.6s at the NFL Scouting Combine. He's a bit stiff with his rush and will need seasoning with his hands, but he is extremely undervalued right now given his upside.
Bayron Matos, OT, South Florida
A walk-on at USF who played college basketball, Matos has almost no experience and would need a long runway. His traits are drawing scouts to take a look because of a frame -- 6-7, 313, 35-inch arms -- and light feet indicating he'll grow into football. Matos ran a 4.92 at his pro day.
McKinnley Jackson, DT, Texas A&M
Testing bumped Jackson down from a likely Day Two pick into the sixth-round range. His length and strength in the run game are readymade for the next level.
Craig Young, LB, Kansas
Primarily a nickel defender for the Jayhawks, Young went from 215 to 225 pounds during the pre-draft process to show he could hold the weight of a true linebacker and testing indicates he maintained his athleticism. Fits for teams emphasizing hybrid versatility in the back seven such as Seattle and Baltimore.
Chau Smith-Wade, CB, Washington State
At a shade under 5-10 and only 184 pounds, Smith-Wade's draft stock tanked with his 4.5 40 time as a likely nickel-only corner. His smooth movements in transition and sticky man coverage should translate.
Jaylon Carlies, LB/S, Missouri
Carlies should be getting more attention. He's the ideal modern-day linebacker with height, weight, length and speed teams covet. His instincts are still in the works, but ceilings don't get much higher for late-rounders.
Report: Free agent WR DJ Chark visits Chargers
Veteran receivers Keenan Allen (Chicago Bears) and Mike Williams (New York Jets) departed this offseason, leaving the Chargers with holes to fill in the passing game for quarterback Justin Herbert.
Chark, 27, caught 35 passes for 525 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games (11 starts) last season with the Carolina Panthers.
He has 212 receptions for 3,069 yards and 23 scores in 69 games (51 starts) with the Panthers, Detroit Lions (2022) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2018-21), who drafted the 2019 Pro Bowler in the second round in 2018.
New head coach Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers also have the No. 5 overall pick next week. Several mock drafts have them selecting a wide receiver, either Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. or LSU's Malik Nabers.
The receivers currently on the L.A. roster include 2023 draft picks Quentin Johnston (first round) and Derius Davis (fourth) and three-year veteran Joshua Palmer.
Broncos don't feel obligated to take QB with 12th overall pick
The Broncos moved on from Russell Wilson earlier in the offseason and have a big need at the position with Jarrett Stidham listed atop the depth chart.
"You would say, ‘Man, it sure looks like we have to draft a quarterback,'" Broncos coach Sean Payton said Thursday during a press conference. "And yet, it has to be the right fit and the right one.
"If we had the tip sheets as to who everyone else was taking, it would be easier to answer that question. That's the puzzle here."
Caleb Williams from Southern California is expected to be selected first overall by the Chicago Bears.
North Carolina's Drake Maye, LSU's Jayden Daniels and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy also are forecasted to go high in the draft.
Washington's Michael Penix Jr. could be available when the Broncos select.
Regardless of the quarterback order, Denver general manager George Paton said getting the pick right is the most important thing. He also said the 12th overall pick doesn't necessarily have to be a quarterback.
"What you don't want to do here is force it," Paton said. "Otherwise, we will be in this position next year and the years after. You want to get the right player at No. 12. Our first pick we have to hit on, whether it's a quarterback, whether it's a tackle, a receiver or you name it. We need to get an impact player."
Paton likes the group of quarterbacks but didn't want to talk specifics.
"I'm not going to talk about our board right now," Paton said. "I do think that it's a good quarterback class. (There are) seven, eight quarterbacks that we like and that we think can play in the league one day.
"I'm not going to get into how we have them rated or the Top 10. I'm not going to go there, but it is a good quarterback class. It's been fun getting to know them, seven or eight of them. We think that we can take a quarterback early; we think (we can get one in) the mid-rounds.
"We think that there are going to be quarterbacks throughout the draft that are interesting to us."
The outside pressure is heating up on the Broncos since they have missed the playoffs eight straight seasons. That just makes hitting on a quarterback more vital.
"Certainly, there are certain positions within the framework of our team right now where the vision could be clearer than maybe other positions," Payton said.
Packers sign former Eagles, Titans OT Andre Dillard
Dillard had been released by the Tennessee Titans as a salary cap casualty on March 15 after career highs of 10 starts and 562 offensive snaps in 16 appearances last season.
He had signed with the Titans as a free agent after four years with the Philadelphia Eagles, who selected him No. 22 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Dillard, who spent the 2020 season on injured reserve, played in 43 games (nine starts) for the Eagles, mostly at left tackle.
Reports: NFL reinstates 5 players suspended for gambling
Current Washington Commanders edge rusher Shaka Toney, former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Rashod Berry and three former Detroit Lions -- wide receiver Quintez Cephus, safety C.J. Moore and defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor -- were reinstated.
Toney and four Lions players, including Moore and Cephus, were suspended last April. Lions wide receivers Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill were suspended for six games.
The Lions released Cephus and Moore when they were suspended.
The league suspended indefinitely Berry and Colts defensive back Isaiah Rodgers as well as free agent Taylor, who had been waived by the Lions about a month earlier. They were penalized for betting on NFL games in the 2022 season.
Rodgers, who remains suspended, later signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, who have his rights.
Ravens WR Zay Flowers cleared by NFL after investigation
The alleged incident occurred in January, and police in Baltimore County, Md., suspended the investigation the following month.
No charges were filed against the 23-year-old Flowers, whom the Ravens selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Boston College.
"Following a review, the NFL concluded there was insufficient evidence to support a finding that Zay Flowers engaged in an activity that violated the NFL's personal conduct policy," the league said in a statement. "There will be no action taken by the league and Flowers remains eligible to participate in all team activities."
As a rookie, Flowers appeared in 16 regular-season games -- all starts -- and caught 77 passes for 858 yards and five touchdowns. He added one TD as he ran the ball eight times for 56 yards.
Commanders GM 'close' to making call on No. 2 pick
Washington will follow the Chicago Bears on the clock next Thursday with a first-time general manager in Peters making the call in a room that includes Quinn and consistent involvement from owner Josh Harris.
"We feel great about staying at No. 2," Peters said of the Commanders' willingness to make a draft-day trade. "I don't see a lot of scenarios where we trade down."
When Ron Rivera was fired at the end of a 4-13 season in 2023, the decision was made for another reset at quarterback. Last year's starter, Sam Howell, was 5-13 in two seasons. The new regime shipped Howell to the Seattle Seahawks in a trade that all but guaranteed Peters would be drafting a quarterback with the second overall pick.
"We have a few more things," Peters said Thursday. "DQ and I will huddle up and probably have an answer sometime next week. I will say this also, you don't need to make a decision until you need to make a decision. So there's no rush with that, but I think we'll have a pretty good idea what we're doing early next week."
A streak of seven consecutive seasons with a different starting quarterback to begin the season will hit eight in September. The run began in 2017, Kirk Cousins' final year with the team.
It's part of the reason Peters admitted he feels pressure to get the pick right for the fanbase, region and Harris, who purchased the team from Daniel Snyder before the 2023 season opened.
"Do we look stressed?" Peters joked Thursday. "There's a lot of pressure. It's a great responsibility. We take this very seriously, that's we've been working tirelessly. There's pressure. That's what we signed up for."
It's a position the Commanders have been in before, a reminder of the long stretch of failures under Synder's control. Washington picked No. 2 overall in 2020 (Chase Young, who was traded last October) and 2012 (Robert Griffin III led Washington to the playoffs as a rookie) and 2000 (LaVar Arrington was a three-time Pro Bowl selection).
The last playoff win for Washington was Jan. 7, 2006. Their active streak of 32 seasons without playing for the conference championship is the longest in the NFL, thanks to the Detroit Lions breaking through earlier this year.
The Commanders are in agreement with the majority of the football world anticipating local product and Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams will be off the board -- to the Chicago Bears as the No. 1 pick -- when Peters and Washington make their pick next week.
Peters and Quinn received sharp criticism for hosting the remaining top-ranked quarterbacks in the draft on a group visit to Top Golf. LSU Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye (North Carolina), J.J. McCarthy (Michigan), and Michael Penix (Washington) were on hand to tee it up with Washington's new brass.
Peters clarified the group gathering was a tradition during his time with the San Francisco 49ers, and he learned the benefits of talking to the players in a relaxed environment among their immediate peers. Each quarterback, Peters reiterated Thursday, received individual time with the front office and coaching staff during the visit.
"Very beneficial," he summarized.
Bills, QB Josh Allen search for answers without WR Stefon Diggs
But as the Bills transform the roster, Allen said he's accepting the unspoken challenge of becoming a better leader.
"It's definitely hard to part ways with a guy that's been very instrumental in our success the last four years," Allen said Thursday of reporting to work without wide receiver Stefon Diggs in tow.
"We made a lot of changes this offseason. We lost a lot of veteran leadership -- Stef being one of them. Going into Year 7 now, it just kind of is what it is. I don't get paid to make changes on the team. I get paid to be the best quarterback I can be and try to lead the guys on this team."
Diggs was traded to the Houston Texans and exchanged text messages with Allen, who said he'll "always love him like a brother." Buffalo also moved on from No. 2 wide receiver Gabe Davis, who landed in Jacksonville as a free agent.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane is tasked with making roster changes. He said there's no truth to the idea Buffalo needs a No. 1 wide receiver on the roster or has to zero in on that position in the draft.
"We'd love to have two guys out there who are No. 1s," Beane said. "What you need are guys that are smart, versatile, selfless and can make the plays that their skill set allows them to make. If it's a tall guy that Josh is going to throw him a 50-50 ball he's got to come down with it. If it's a guy that we're going to get the ball in his hands and we need some (yards after the catch) he's going to do that. ... If there's a (No.) 1 (receiver) that pops up in free agency or draft that makes sense for us, we'll do it.
"I don't think not having a 1 means we cannot have success either as an offense or as a team."
Buffalo's current depth chart at the position features 2023 fifth-round pick Justin Shorter, 2022 fifth-round pick Khalil Shakir and free agent signee Curtis Samuel.
The Bills feature tight ends Dawson Knox and 2023 first-round pick Dalton Kincaid but no outside receiver with Diggs' resume.
"We'll miss him. You never replace a player like Stef Diggs," head coach Sean McDermott said Thursday. "... Hard to move on from a player like that."
McDermott called the trade an "opportunity to step up" for returning receivers.
He said he discussed the trade of Diggs with Allen and they communicated "multiple times" because of the gravity of the decision. In exchange for a 2025 second-round pick, the Bills are forced to swallow $31 million in dead money on the current payroll and take a $4 million cap hit.
"Just trying to do what's best for the team, both in the near-term and the long-term," McDermott said.
Giants GM: TE Darren Waller still undecided; draft trade talk 'surprising'
Schoen said Thursday at a pre-draft press conference the Giants are giving Waller the time and space he requested to deliberate whether to re-invest in the physical and emotional toll required to continue his NFL career.
The Giants could consider a tight end in the draft with Georgia's Brock Bowers standing out as the top talent at the position.
But Schoen sounded more inclined to weigh trade options because of the number of holes the Giants have on the roster.
With Waller's future up in the air, wide receiver Darius Slayton also is avoiding voluntary workouts and reportedly seeking a new contract. Schoen said Thursday the Giants understand the business side and said the situation serves as a reminder the team work in April is "voluntary."
"I understand where he's coming from. That's his prerogative," Schoen said.
The Giants hosted multiple wide receivers on "top 30" visits including likely top-10 picks Marvin Harrison Jr. of Ohio State, Malik Nabers of LSU and Rome Odunze of Washington. All three visited New Jersey on the same day in March.
Recent additions at wide receiver have produced underwhelming results. The Giants traded 2021 first-round receiver Kadarius Toney -- a selection made by the front office preceding Schoen's arrival -- and parted with big-ticket free agent Kenny Golladay in 2022.
Roster needs are plentiful entering 2024. They could include quarterback and running back. Daniel Jones is coming off of neck surgery and Saquon Barkley bolted for the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent.
If it comes down to trading out of the No. 6 spot to stockpile picks, Schoen said the number of calls from teams inquiring about that pick has been a surprise.
New York also is making calls of its own.
Schoen said the Giants' "expectation" is for Jones to return as the team's starter, even as reports of the team's interest in prospects at the position gain steam.
"I've still got a lot of confidence in Daniel," Schoen said. "He's here all the time. We've got a good relationship."
Reports indicate the Giants also are looking into moving up. Schoen didn't confirm on Thursday but did admit he's aware the teams with the top three picks -- Chicago, Washington and New England -- aren't "inclined to move right now."
"I don't think anybody's ready to move right now, I know people are listening," Schoen said.
Waller, who will turn 32 in September, caught 52 passes for 552 yards and one touchdown in 12 games (11 starts) last season with New York.
The Giants signed tight ends Jack Stoll and Chris Manhertz in free agency.
Waller is due a base salary of $10.5 million in 2024. He signed a three-year, $51 million contract extension with the Las Vegas Raiders in September 2022. New York acquired him from Las Vegas in March 2023 for a third-round pick in the 2023 draft.
Patriots' front office 'open to anything' with No. 3 pick options
Wolf sprayed to all fields as he chatted with reporters Thursday. He's embracing his first draft at the top of the Patriots' personnel department, a role he was handed when New England fired Bill Belichick and hired Jerod Mayo as head coach.
The son of Hall of Fame general manager Ron Wolf admitted he's always eager for more picks -- New England has eight overall selections starting with the third pick, No. 34 overall and No. 68 at the top of the third round.
Wolf has a massive hole at quarterback to fill, but it's one of many for a team plotting to rebound from a 4-13 season.
"We're a draft-and-develop team," Wolf said. "The more picks we have, the better."
Failing to develop the last quarterback New England selected in the first round -- Mac Jones, the 15th pick in 2021 out of Alabama -- was a factor that pushed the Patriots into the draft's top 10 for the first time since they drafted Mayo 10th in 2008. Jones was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason after 42 career starts
"We're open to anything -- moving up, moving down," Wolf said. "We're open for business in the first round and in every round. ... If there's an opportunity to move up and strike if the board, kind of, recommends it, we're open to anything."
New England signed journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett while not masking their interest in the top quarterbacks in the 2024 draft. Some combination of Wolf, Mayo and top assistant coaches attended Pro Day workouts for Southern California's Caleb Williams, LSU's Jayden Daniels, Michigan's J.J. McCarthy and North Carolina's Drake Maye. Washington quarterback Michael Penix was one of the "top 30" prospect visits at team headquarters in Foxborough, Mass.
Wolf revealed the top six quarterbacks on the Patriots' board all received glowing marks from teammates and coaches during New England's scouting staff research the past three-plus months.
"Hearing how impressive they are as teammates, as people, as leaders ... I think it's a unique year. I'd say that's been impressive with all six of these quarterbacks that are kind of the top guys," Wolf said.
The Patriots traded Jones after benching him late in the 2023 season. Bailey Zappe, drafted 137th overall in 2022, went 2-4 as New England's starter down the stretch. Wolf was part of the front office that selected Jones and Zappe, but New England held onto Zappe in the offseason with a new system introduced following Bill O'Brien's departure for the college ranks.
Zappe turns 25 on the second night of the draft -- by comparison, Penix turns 24 in May and Daniels' 24th birthday is Dec. 20 -- and is expected to stick around at least into training camp unless the Patriots draft two quarterbacks or acquire one via trade.
2024 NFL Draft: Top 50 Big Board
But the 2024 NFL Draft is rich at multiple positions with depth for days at wide receiver and offensive tackle.
Teams that covet a lockdown cornerback or stud safety might be out of luck, and the popular discussion around value at the interior offensive line and running back spots will play out in a big way starting in the second round.
If it's Michigan men you want, this is your year. Starting with quarterback J.J. McCarthy, 10 former Wolverines graded out as top-125 prospects.
1. QB Caleb Williams, Southern California
Talent is enough to roll the dice that Williams consistently delivers the goods in the NFL if a franchise leaves space for him to be an individual without dropping traditional expectations for a QB1 and No. 1 pick.
2. QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
Daniels played like a much different man last season, entering the year with a fourth-round grade and ending it with a Heisman Trophy and squarely in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick. He has elite speed, an elusive running style and exhibited incredible growth as a passer. No QB in the class performed better against pressure looks and blitzes. He has high-end accuracy and decision-making to overcome growing pains if he lands with a team with modest talent.
3. QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
Maye checks all necessary boxes to be a long-term starter. He has impressive touch and control as a passer regardless of the situation and enough quickness and presence to handle pressure and create throwing lanes under duress. His ceiling isn't as high as some of the other quarterbacks on this list but has better mobility than expected and enough arm talent.
4. WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
5. WR Malik Nabers, LSU
Such a smooth athlete he will be knocked for looking like he's rolling on cruise control, the truth is Nabers is a graceful open-field mover with instant change-of-direction agility and the build-up speed to pull away from defenders. He may need time to adjust to the physicality of NFL press coverage, but his traits suggest he gets there.
6. WR Rome Odunze, Washington
Odunze slots closely to Nabers and Harrison depending on what you're looking for at the position. He's incredibly strong playing through contact along his routes, tracks the ball naturally and doesn't lose when fighting for the ball in a crowd. He's not the craftsman or overall athlete Nabers and Harrison are at this stage, but some evaluators wrote the same knocks on Larry Fitzgerald's Pitt scouting report.
7. OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
Big, long and steady in pass protection, Alt is an adequate athlete but his game really shines when shutting down power rushers or using his length to seal off pressure off the corner. He's not a nasty blocker who will push people around and elite athletes will test his game, but he has the skill set to lock up almost anyone in the league.
8. TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
A unique height-weight-speed matchup who has the ball skills and speed to threaten any linebacker or safety, Bowers is more of a supersized receiver than a tight end. He won't be a factor in the run game early in his career, but his ability to make plays after the catch and create separation against man coverage imply he can be a Pro Bowl impact player very soon.
9. EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama
Teammate Will Anderson Jr. (No. 3 pick in 2023 to the Houston Texans) was more refined, but Turner was just as productive in his final year with the Crimson Tide, relying on his ability to consistently attack the corner and get around it. He'll be a work in progress for his first season and perhaps more, but there's an All-Pro ceiling to unveil should he maximize his full potential.
10. OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
Fashanu presents an overall body of work that separates him from a pack of offensive tackles in the first round. He's not an elite athlete. But he plays with discipline and accurate hands, refined footwork and his well-rounded style of play blocks all paths to success for defensive linemen.
11. CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
As one scout put it, no player in this class has a bigger appetite to be great. The self-titled "best player to come out of the MAC," we need to see a bit more before taking his measurements against Randy Moss and Ben Roethlisberger. But Mitchell is the best Group of 5 player in this class by a considerable margin. He aced every pre-draft test to back up insane production on the ball and proved elite speed at the Scouting Combine. He's a long, fluid corner with great speed and gets an A+ for competitive endurance.
12. OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
A two-year starter at right tackle, Fuaga is a near carbon copy of Bears 2023 first-round pick Darnell Wright. He has adequate length and a steady approach to his pass sets that will allow him to stay outside as a pro. What teams covet in his game: beastly power in the run game and a reputation as a no-mercy finisher.
13. EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State
Verse looked spindly in 2022 while playing at 248 pounds, then added good weight in 2023 while maintaining his patented first step and subtle speed to power transition. His ability to set up blockers with his quickness and hand usage is hard to handle even for the most technical and athletic tackles. The extra year of development has paid off and should allow him to start as a rookie.
14. CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
An easy moving corner with the size, speed and agility to match up against receivers with varied traits, Arnold deals with some lapses in judgment when playing the ball in the air or working from zone. His tools are there, and it might not be long before he is one of the best corners in the league by ironing out those flaws. He's the top athlete - and one of the youngest -- at the position in 2024, which will boost his final draft grade for most teams.
15. OT Troy Fautanu, Washington
Superb athlete with defensive line and offensive line chops, he could play any position on the line and moves like a tight end.
16. OT J.C. Latham, Alabama
Latham went from 325 pounds to 360 for his final season. The results were mixed on the field and he checked in at 343 at his March Pro Day. He is extraordinarily athletic for a man of his size. He wasn't quite as fluid or nimble in pass protection or space in 2023, so he may need to drop weight as a pro to get back to looking like a future high-end starter.
17. DT Byron Murphy II, Texas
Overshadowed when the 2023 season began by high-profile teammates Alfred Collins and T'Vondre Sweat, Murphy's incredible first step and lightning fast hands turn him into the best pro of the group. The boxy-framed defender lacks the length desired for the position but has great feel for attacking and creating ways to get off blocks.
18. WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
A height-weight-speed prospect whose emergence coincides with the rise of Heisman-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels. Not as developed as the receivers higher on this list, Thomas has immense potential while his game evolves. He has solid ball skills, can win reliably down the field when targeted against man coverage and could be in the unguardable category with route refinement.
19. EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA
Latu is a crisp athlete with the hands to always have the answers to the blocking test. He can rush the passer just easily standing up or with his hand down, and his feel for finding angles and capitalizing on the mistakes of blockers. His medical will be a major question mark for teams, but a clean bill of health should land him in the top 20.
20. QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
All-in character helped lift McCarthy into the early first-round conversation but he's a clear No. 4 on the QB board as the least rehearsed in terms of direct NFL skillsets. But the tools clearly are all here, including the arm talent not flexed as frequently in Michigan's pro-style, power-based, run-first offense.
21. OL Graham Barton, Duke
Draft him and plug him in at any of the three interior OL spots or trial Barton at left tackle in a quick-set passing attack and he's ready to anchor the line for a decade.
22. CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
Size (6-foot-2), speed (4.28 40 time) and traits for days. Wiggins would be one of the first players picked in a best-athlete-available draft. NFL teams aren't all convinced he'll bite if he can get the job done by showing his teeth, especially supporting against the run.
23. CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
There are more sudden cover cornerbacks in the class but playmaking is DeJean's game, and his straight-line speed should equate to top-level range if he's moved to safety.
24. OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
Sample size is the only time "tiny" could be applied to the 6-8, 345-pound Mims. Raw with only eight career starts, Mims is a mountainous right tackle with the upside to make it at left tackle. But he'll require patience and technique work to cover still-developing football instincts to maximize his natural ability and reach his significant ceiling.
25. EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State
Much like recent late first-round pick Nolan Smith (Eagles), Robinson's size isn't ideal for setting the edge or holding up in the run game. There's no dismissing his burst and bend to threaten almost any offensive tackle around the corner. He's unseasoned but the bet from NFL teams will be he can be a 10-sack contributor during his first contract.
26. DT Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois
A maxed-out frame and limited length worries some teams with Newton when it comes to defending the run. On the flip side, he's a pro-ready pass rusher with great agility, hand speed and a knack for creating with counter moves.
27. DT/DE Darius Robinson, Missouri
Experience and winning tape across the defensive line, Robinson sheds blockers without a fight. Because of his measurables and raw tools, teams are enticed by his ceiling and versatility to fit virtually any defense.
28. CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
The preliminary favorite to be the top cornerback in this class, McKinstry was overshadowed at times by teammate Terrion Arnold this year but still figures to be a longtime starter with return game skills to boot. While he is better in man than zone he has ball skills and athleticism that transfer easily to the NFL.
29. C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
Brick wall of a center at 328 pounds, Powers-Johnson could find his way to guard and wins on brute strength to hold off even the biggest nose tackles in the NFL.
30. OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
Tools galore, Guyton needs polish but brings ideal size, length and quickness to be a franchise left tackle. His hand usage and footwork are essential pieces to develop, making him a long-term project. With the right coaching he could end up being one of the best linemen in the class.
31. WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas
Buzz continues to grow around Mitchell on a boost from his elite athleticism and testing at 6-2, 205. He ran a 4.34 40-yard dash and showed off his 39.5-inch vertical in Indianapolis, sending teams back to study his 18 touchdowns in three seasons split between Georgia (2021, 2022) and Texas.
32. WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia
Speaking of scorers, McConkey had 19 career touchdowns with the Bulldogs and his skill set and body type bear some resemblance to Cooper Kupp, the kind of relative comparisons pushing his draft stock into the first round since an injury-plagued junior season ended.
Best of the rest:
33. WR Xavier Worthy, Texas
34. OG Jordan Morgan, Arizona
35. QB Bo Nix, Oregon
36. OT Kingsley Suamataia, BYU
37. LB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
38. WR Troy Franklin, Oregon
39. DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan
40. WR Roman Wilson, Michigan
41. C Zach Frazier, West Virginia
42. LB Junior Colson, Michigan
43. CB Mike Sainristil, Michigan
44. EDGE Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan
45. WR Ricky Pearsall, Florida
46. WR Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky
47. CB Max Melton, Rutgers
48. DT Maason Smith, LSU
49. S Tyler Nubin, Minnesota
50. EDGE Chris Braswell, Alabama
Browns sign veteran OL Germain Ifedi
Terms were not disclosed.
Ifedi, 29, was a first-round pick in 2016 and has started 83 of 102 career games with three NFL teams.
He spent most of last season on the Buffalo Bills' active roster but did not appear in a game.
Ifedi has started 59 games at right tackle and 24 at right guard with the Seattle Seahawks (2016-19), Chicago Bears (2020-21) and Atlanta Falcons (2022).
The Browns also placed tackle Justin Murray on the reserve/retired list.
Murray, who turns 31 on Friday, spent time on Cleveland's practice squad last season.
Murray appeared in 41 games (20 starts) with the then-Oakland Raiders (2018), Arizona Cardinals (2019-21), Bills (2022) and Tennessee Titans (2023).
RB J.K. Dobbins agrees to one-year deal with Chargers
Dobbins, 25, spent the previous four years in Baltimore. With the Chargers, he will play under former Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who now holds the same position in Los Angeles.
In 2023, Dobbins sustained a season-ending Achilles tear in the season opener against the Houston Texans. He had eight carries for 22 yards in his abbreviated campaign.
Injuries affected his previous NFL seasons, too. After producing 805 rushing yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie in 2020, he tore an anterior cruciate ligament in a 2021 exhibition game and missed the entire season.
Dobbins returned to action in 2022 but was slowed by another knee injury that limited him to eight games. He wound up with 520 yards and two touchdowns that year.
The Ravens selected Dobbins in the second round of the 2020 draft (55th overall) out of Ohio State.
Trevor Lawrence not distracted by looming deal with Jaguars
Speaking to the media on Tuesday at the beginning of the 2024 offseason program, the former No. 1 overall pick said his representatives have discussed a new contract with the Jaguars.
"We love it here and I love where we're headed as an organization and feel like I'm just getting better every year and my best ball's definitely ahead of me," said Lawrence, who has started 50 games over his first three seasons. "So, from that standpoint, obviously that would be great."
Since the 2011 collective bargaining agreement, NFL draft picks sign four-year deals, with teams holding fifth-year options for first-round selections. After a player's third season, teams must choose whether to exercise that option during the offseason.
May 2 is the deadline for the Jaguars to decide whether to pick up the option on Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne Jr. (No. 25 overall pick in 2021).
"It's not like this is necessarily going to be my last season (on the rookie contract)," Lawrence said. "There's a lot that could happen. It's not really my focus right now. At the end of the day, my job isn't going to change whether I get extended or not before this season.
"My job is to go win games and to be the best I can be for this team so we can have a chance to win a Super Bowl."
Coming off a strong 2022 campaign (25 touchdowns, eight interceptions), the 24-year-old Lawrence played through injuries down the stretch last season and finished with 21 TDs and 14 picks. He also missed a start for the first time in his NFL career, sitting out a Week 17 home win against the Carolina Panthers.
Gearing up for the 2024 season, Lawrence said he won't let any contract talk get in the way of his preparation.
"I can't lie: Obviously it would be nice to have that done and feel good about it," Lawrence said. "But no, it's not really the focus right now. Even if I get the contract extension, that's still my job even more so."
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts yearns for offensive continuity
"I find myself in a situation very similar to college in terms of having a constantly revolving door in terms of coordinators and coaches," Hurts told reporters Wednesday. "But I've always managed to have success in it, so that's always been a good thing, because you've been able to learn from people and apply it."
Kellen Moore is the Eagles' new offensive coordinator this season, replacing Brian Johnson, who was fired after the offense struggled down the stretch. Following a 10-1 start, Philadelphia dropped six of its last seven before losing in an NFC wild-card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In his four college seasons (three at Alabama, one at Oklahoma), Hurts had a different playcaller every year. It wasn't until 2021-22 that Hurts had the same coordinator for consecutive seasons, when now-Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen held the role.
"I think as a player, I definitely yearn for the sustainability and the consistency there," Hurts said. "As a quarterback, I yearn for those things in a playcaller and a quarterback coach because you kind of see how consistency in those areas can breed excellence,"
Under Steichen's tutelage, Hurts led the Eagles to an appearance in Super Bowl LVII and finished second in MVP voting in 2022.
When Steichen left for Indianapolis, Johnson was promoted from QB coach to offensive coordinator, but he, Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni reportedly didn't see eye to eye.
"I think the best of him. He's been a huge part of my development in my time here as an Eagle," Hurts said of Johnson, a longtime family friend who is now the Washington Commanders' assistant head coach/offensive pass game coordinator.
As for working with Moore, Hurts said he'll soak it all in and be ready to adjust when it comes to the new coordinator's game plan.
"I'm just all ears. I'm a sponge. I think there's some beauty in that," Hurts said. "I'm just in sponge mode. I'm letting them do what it is they're going to do, and then we kind of adjust from there. I think the thing that we all have to understand is the importance of a foundation in something.
"So I want the coaches to declare their foundation in terms of what they want something to be, how they want it to look, and then obviously you're going to adjust from there."
Bill Belichick joining Pat McAfee for NFL draft-day coverage
Belichick will be part of the team on "The Pat McAfee Show Draft Spectacular," to air the opening night of the draft on ESPN+, the host announced Wednesday.
The draft will be held April 25-27 in Detroit.
"I'm looking forward to it," a relaxed-looking Belichick told McAfee. "Draft weekend's always an exciting time for everybody -- for the teams that are building their teams and for the fans and for everybody involved in it, so you know it's a great event and, yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing it, you know, from the other side. It will be fun to be in Detroit."
Belichick, known for his frequent trades during the draft, said he expects to chip in what he knows about draft-day dealing.
"I think I can, you know, give a little insight into maybe what the conversations will be in those rounds," he said. "I've made a few trades."
Belichick and the Patriots agreed to part ways in January, and he was not hired to fill a vacancy during the 2024 coaching cycle. It is widely anticipated that Belichick, who turned 72 on Tuesday, will wind up working in TV in some capacity this fall.
The architect of six Super Bowl-winning teams in New England, Belichick built a 302-165 career record with the Patriots (2000-23) and Cleveland Browns (1991-95).
2024 NFL Draft: Top needs for all 32 teams
The 2024 NFL Draft kicks off April 25 and there are schools of thought in every front office as to whether the best player available -- generally defended as the primary default setting for the draft -- or best fit for a specific, existing need makes more sense.
In reality, a confluence of the two is the sweet spot every franchise targets.
Take the Chicago Bears.
Unless you are driving the Tyson Bagent bandwagon, quarterback stands as the No. 1 need for general manager Ryan Poles. He essentially made the same admission with the delayed consummation of a trade of 2021 first-rounder Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Chicago has the No. 9 pick to invest on another need -- or BPA -- or Poles could opt to trade down and gather more draft capital. The Bears have only four total draft picks thanks to trades for defensive end Montez Sweat and wide receiver Chase Claypool.
Here are the top needs for all 32 teams listed in the current 2024 draft order.
Chicago Bears
QB, Edge, OT, WR, DT
Set to select the first overall pick for the third time in franchise history, the Bears are still looking for stability at quarterback in what will be their 30th starter since 2000.
Washington Commanders
QB, OT, Edge
Another reset in Washington this offseason brings the search for a new QB to help the franchise reach its first Super Bowl in 32 years.
New England Patriots
QB, WR, CB, OT, DT
Owner Robert Kraft remains blunt about big changes to the offense - starting with a clean slate at quarterback.
Arizona Cardinals
WR, OL, CB, DL, RB
One pick away from the No. 3 slot where they selected Larry Fitzgerald in 2004.
Los Angeles Chargers
CB, RB, OT, WR, DT
Shoring up the defense and pass protection are peak priorities under new coach Jim Harbaugh.
New York Giants
CB, RB, WR, QB, S
With or without Daniel Jones, the Giants have work to do at a number of positions.
Tennessee Titans
Edge, OT, DT, WR, TE
Likely in position to select the best defensive player in the draft or a top-ranked playmaker, but need is great on offensive line, too.
Atlanta Falcons
CB, Edge, DT, OL, S
New coach Raheem Morris covets pass rush and takeaways.
New York Jets
OL, TE, WR, S, CB, QB
Aaron Rodgers returns from Achilles surgery as a pocket passer only preserved by pristine protection from the offensive line.
Minnesota Vikings
QB, OL, Edge, DT-NT, WR
Kirk Cousins hit the exit for Atlanta in free agency and Minnesota armed up with a second first-round pick to help fill the void.
Denver Broncos
QB, WR, CB, DT, Edge
No longer tethered to Russell Wilson -- only by his record dead cap hit -- it's likely a transition season for the Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders
QB, CB, WR, OT, OL
Head coach Antonio Pierce plans to construct a winner in the trenches.
New Orleans Saints
OT, WR, QB, CB, DT
Multiple offensive linemen could be added by the Saints due to injuries and ineffective play last season.
Indianapolis Colts
WR, CB, S, RB, TE
Michael Pittman stayed but offensive firepower must improve for second-year QB Anthony Richardson to reach his potential.
Seattle Seahawks
OL, TE, LB, Edge, DL
No longer Pete Carroll's operation, the Seahawks still have vacancies at key front seven positions and the interior offensive line.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Edge, DT, CB, OT, WR
Josh Allen cashed in after his 17.5-sack season and would thrive with a better supporting cast.
Cincinnati Bengals
DT, OT, TE, WR, CB
An active interior pass rusher might lift the Bengals to the top tier of contenders.
Los Angeles Rams
DT, CB, OT, CB, QB
Aaron Donald's retirement is cause for concern as the Rams make a first-round pick for the first time since 2016 (Jared Goff).
Pittsburgh Steelers
OT, WR, CB, DT, S
Pittsburgh invested its top pick on offense in every draft since 2019.
Miami Dolphins
OL, DT, TE, Edge, LB
Sneaky solid free agency haul left a few remaining voids, including right guard, and left tackle Terron Armstead's durability is a lingering worry.
Philadelphia Eagles
S, CB, TE, OT, Edge
Welcomed back C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency but free safety and pass rushers are key concerns.
Dallas Cowboys
OT, LB, WR, RB, DT
No longer is Tyron Smith old reliable at left tackle. Even if Tyler Smith slides outside, offensive line additions are priority.
Green Bay Packers
OT, DT, CB, S, LB
With the future in Jordan Love's hands, the Packers address front five.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Edge, CB, S, LB, OL
GM Jason Licht back to the well: Bucs drafted defensive linemen in first round in 2018, 2021, 2023.
Buffalo Bills
WR, DT, Edge, RB, CB
Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis are gone, leaving Buffalo with a largely new cast outside.
Detroit Lions
CB, S, Edge, OL, WR
Free agent addition Carlton Davis proclaimed himself the No. 1 corner in Detroit. Still, Lions GM admits team covets cornerbacks.
Baltimore Ravens
OL, WR, Edge, S, DL
Figuring out the left side of the line and a long-term plan at tackle would be wise given investment in Lamar Jackson.
San Francisco 49ers
OL, WR, LB, CB, TE
Defensive line remains a default play for GM John Lynch but the O-line is overdue some attention.
Kansas City Chiefs
OT, CB, RB, WR, TE
More playmakers won't hurt Patrick Mahomes, as long as the Chiefs stabilize blocking, too. Leading receiver Rashee Rice's arrest adds uncertainty despite KC signing WR Hollywood Brown.
Carolina Panthers
WR, CB, Edge, DT, TE
Heavily invested in improving offensive line. Time to find a big-play receiver for Bryce Young.
Houston Texans
CB, LB, OL, DL, TE
Pair of 2023 first-rounders worked out quite nicely (CJ Stroud, Will Anderson Jr.). Shopping to fill niche roles shows just how far the roster has come since 2022.
Cleveland Browns
QB, RB, LB, DT, WR
Deshaun Watson played 12 games in two seasons and is coming off of shoulder surgery, while RB Nick Chubb's status will be up in the air until he proves recovered from knee reconstruction.
Cowboys sign RB Royce Freeman
Terms were not disclosed but multiple media outlets reported it was a one-year contract for Freeman, 28.
Dallas needed help at the position after seeing last season's leading rusher Tony Pollard depart in free agency.
Freeman, a six-year veteran, becomes the most experienced running back on the roster for the Cowboys, who also have Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis, Snoop Conner and Hunter Luepke.
Freeman ran for 319 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games off the bench last season with the Los Angeles Rams. The 2018 third-round pick has rushed for 1,792 yards with 10 TDs in 79 career games (nine starts) with the Denver Broncos (2018-20), Carolina Panthers (2021), Houston Texans (2021-22) and Rams (2023).
49ers bring back receiver/returner Trent Taylor
Taylor, 29, signed a one-year contact on Tuesday with the 49ers, who had selected him in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Louisiana Tech.
After playing for San Francisco from 2017-20, Taylor spent most of 2019 on injured reserve (foot surgery), before playing for the Cincinnati Bengals (2021-22) and Chicago Bears (2023). He has 87 career receptions for 834 yards and three touchdowns in 78 games (three starts), with his best season as a rookie in 2017, when he made 43 catches for 430 yards and two scores.
Taylor didn't have a catch in 17 games with the Bears last season, but he did return 23 punts for 188 yards (8.2-yard average), with a long of 31 yards. McCloud returned 24 punts for 203 yards (8.4 average), with a long of 19, and also returned 10 kickoffs for a 22.5-yard average.
2024 NFL Draft: Top 100
1. WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
2. WR Malik Nabers, LSU
3. QB Caleb Williams, USC
4. QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
5. QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
6. OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
7. WR Rome Odunze, Washington
8. DE Jared Verse, Florida State
9. TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
10. OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
11. OLB Dallas Turner, Alabama
12. CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
13. CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
14. DE Laiatu Latu, UCLA
15. OT Kingsley Suamataia, BYU
16. WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
17. CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
18. DT Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois
19. DT Darius Robinson, Missouri
20. DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan
21. CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
22. CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
23. OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
24. OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
25. OLB Chop Robinson, Penn State
26. C Graham Barton, Duke
27. OT JC Latham, Alabama
28. OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
29. QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
30. ILB Cedric Gray, North Carolina
31. OT Troy Fautanu, Washington
32. DT Byron Murphy II, Texas
33. WR Xavier Worthy, Texas
34. OT Jordan Morgan, Arizona
35. ILB Payton Wilson, NC State
36. OG Christian Haynes, Connecticut
37. CB Kamari Lassiter, Georgia
38. DE Adisa Isaac, Penn State
39. WR Troy Franklin, Oregon
40. WR Xavier Legette, South Carolina
41. DE Austin Booker, Kansas
42. S Tyler Nubin, Minnesota
43. OLB Junior Colson, Michigan
44. QB Bo Nix, Oregon
45. DT Maason Smith, LSU
46. DT McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M
47. C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
48. S Kamren Kinchens, Miami
49. WR Keon Coleman, Florida State
50. WR Ja'Lynn Polk, Washington
51. ILB Trevin Wallace, Kentucky
52. WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas
53. OG Layden Robinson, Texas A&M
54. CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri
55. CB Kalen King, Penn State
56. RB Jaylen Wright, Tennessee
57. ILB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
58. RB Jonathon Brooks, Texas
59. RB Will Shipley, Clemson
60. C Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia
61. DE Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan
62. S Calen Bullock, USC
63. OLB Chris Braswell, Alabama
64. RB Trey Benson, Florida State
65. S Javon Bullard, Georgia
66. DE Braiden McGregor, Michigan
67. C Zach Frazier, West Virginia
68. CB Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri
69. WR Roman Wilson, Michigan
70. WR Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky
71. OG Isaiah Adams, Illinois
72. DT Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson
73. DT T'Vondre Sweat, Texas
74. RB Blake Corum, Michigan
75. CB Khyree Jackson, Oregon
76. S Jaden Hicks, Washington State
77. S Cole Bishop, Utah
78. WR Devontez Walker, North Carolina
79. WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia
80. DE Brandon Dorlus, Oregon
81. OLB Ty'Ron Hopper, Missouri
82. OG Tanor Bortolini, Wisconsin
83. TE Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota
84. RB Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
85. DE Bralen Trice, Washington
86. TE Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas
87. OT Delmar Glaze, Maryland
88. CB T.J. Tampa, Iowa State
89. TE Cade Stover, Ohio State
90. CB Josh Newton, TCU
91. OG Brandon Coleman, TCU
92. S Beau Brade, Maryland
93. S James Williams, Miami
94. DT Braden Fiske, Florida State
95. RB Jase McClellan, Alabama
96. TE Jaheim Bell, Florida State
97. RB MarShawn Lloyd, USC
98. TE Jared Wiley, TCU
99. ILB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson
100. ILB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
Lions QB Jared Goff talks contract, determined to stay in Detroit
But the future isn't certain for Goff, who has one year remaining on the four-year, $134 million contract extension he signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 2109. Goff is due $27.3 million in 2024.
"I love it here and I want to be here a long time," Goff said Tuesday during media availability at voluntary offseason workouts. "It's been really special playing in front of these fans. Being able to provide a winning culture over the last year and a half or so. See them experience that and be a part of that has been fun, but by no means are we satisfied."
Goff recorded a career-best 67.3 completion percentage and threw for 4,575 yards (No. 2 in the NFL) with 30 touchdowns (fourth in the league) and 12 interceptions this season. He is knocking on the door of making his second Super Bowl appearance, with his first coming with the Los Angeles Rams in a 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots on Feb. 3, 2019.
While he's reached cult status in Detroit, Goff didn't disclose the context of contractual negotiations he said are taking place with the Lions' front office. Barring injury or a shocking transaction this month, Goff knows he'll have at least one more season with the Lions.
"I've had a ton of fun winning in this city, winning for these fans," Goff said.
Goff spent five seasons with the Rams after they made him top overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, then was traded to Detroit as part of a deal that involved fellow quarterback Matthew Stafford on March 18, 2021.
Head coach Dan Campbell defended Goff and the perception he wasn't the quality of quarterback capable of winning the Super Bowl, especially from fans pinning the NFC Championship game loss to the 49ers in January on the quarterback. The Lions coughed up a three-score lead and became the first team to lose a conference championship after leading by 17-plus points at halftime (previously 21-0).
Campbell said this offseason he wanted Goff and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to be "priority" when it comes to contract extensions.
"Those are certainly priorities," he said last month.
Goff turns 30 in October and could be a measuring stick used for other contract negotiations, including the case of Cowboys soon-to-be-free-agent Dak Prescott. He's in the final year of a four-year, $160 million deal in Dallas.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson progresses to 'full speed' throws
"Everything is full motion," Watson said Tuesday after reporting for Cleveland's offseason program. "Everything is fluid and motion is really good. The velocity and the strength is really good."
Watson had surgery in November following a season-ending injury to his right shoulder during Cleveland's 33-31 victory in Baltimore on Nov. 12. He landed on injured reserve as the Browns signed former first-round pick Joe Flacco from the couch to lead the team's charge to the playoffs and a wild-card berth.
Acquired from the Houston Texans and signed to a fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million contract in 2022, Watson has played 12 total games in his first two seasons with the Browns.
He has three years left on that contract and is determined to prove he's the best man for the job in Cleveland. But Watson won't be pushing to make any offseason statements at the risk of re-injury, a position head coach Kevin Stefanski said the franchise would take to preserve their QB1 this spring.
"This is an injury that, for spring, you want to be a little bit more conservative. This summer you get ready for training camp. That's going to be a time where we can pick that up," Watson said.
Watson, 28, completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 1,115 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions in six games in 2023.
A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Watson has thrown for 16,756 yards with 118 touchdowns and 45 interceptions in 66 career games with the Houston Texans (2017-20) and Browns.
2024 NFL Mock Draft: Offensive dominates first two rounds
Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The quarterback with the highest upside on the board, the Bears reset priorities to help the unique but talented Williams reach his Patrick Mahomes-like ceiling.
2. Washington Commanders
Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
The Commanders secure the best QB available. Even without Williams' immense upside, Maye is comfortable in the pocket and capable in the "Air Raid" derivative scheme employed by new coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
3. New England Patriots
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
A trade wouldn't be a surprise here but predicting the priorities and appetite for risk from personnel boss Eliot Wolf and head coach Jerod Mayo isn't easy. In the Heisman winner the Patriots would have a dual-threat quarterback with a quick trigger and the open-field skills that indicate his ceiling hasn't been touched.
4. Arizona Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Nothing to overthink here. Kyler Murray gets a pro-ready, top-tier receiver. This tandem in their physical prime could quickly rejuvenate the Cardinals' passing game.
5. Los Angeles Chargers
Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Alt brings another sure thing to the edge in Jim Harbaugh's run-centric scheme that should make Justin Herbert a deadly force from the pocket.
6. New York Giants
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Plus size and athleticism with the ability to separate from man coverage and create after the catch. Odunze isn't a speedster but uses his body and reach to claim every jump ball.
7. Tennessee Titans
Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Fashanu is the most refined pass blocker in the class. Tennessee is trying to support their new potential franchise quarterback in Will Levis, and this is the first step.
8. Atlanta Falcons
Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
Plus athleticism will excite Raheem Morris as he brings his 3-4 scheme to the Falcons, who can't seem to find a consistent pass rush outside.
9. Chicago Bears
Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
One of the youngest prospects in the draft, Nabers can ease into the offense as a second receiver behind DJ Moore and help redefine Monsters of the Midway.
10. New York Jets
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Drafting tight ends in the top 10 might be foolhardy, but the Jets are in win-now mode yet again. Bowers brings a gamebreaker approach to tight end that Aaron Rodgers can use to exploit defenses instantly.
11. Minnesota Vikings
Jared Verse, DE, Florida State
The Vikings prioritize length in their edge group and Verse has it in spades, combined with explosive athleticism and decent technical refinement. Verse should bring up the floor of a depleted defensive line and elevate Brian Flores to new heights as a defensive coordinator.
12. Denver Broncos
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Betting big on the underdog quarterback isn't a novel concept to Sean Payton, who tutored undrafted free agent Tony Romo in Dallas and pushed his chips to the middle of the table for Drew Brees coming off shoulder surgery. McCarthy isn't going to flinch under the taskmaster coaching of Payton but getting great results might mean surviving growing pains.
13. Las Vegas Raiders
Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
With 4.4 speed and nearly unprecedented playmaking to get to balls in the air, Mitchell has a chance to rise to stardom early behind the Raiders' dominant pass rush.
14. New Orleans Saints
JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Pass protection is a serious need in New Orleans with a pair of wobbly tackles. A franchise whose draft board rarely matches the masses targets Latham for his strength and the footwork to help preserve QB Derek Carr after a rough year running for cover in 2023.
15. Indianapolis Colts
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
The Colts would be intrigued by a move down with a handful of offensive linemen and wide receivers that fit the prototypes GM Chris Ballard prefers. The value of landing Arnold in this spot is too good to resist.
16. Seattle Seahawks
Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Versatile defensive linemen are like favorite songs for new coach Mike Macdonald -- he can't pick just one. A gap-shooting force with strength and agility, Newton brings valued versatility to the new-look Seahawks.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Losing Calvin Ridley leaves a mark, but Thomas will be cheaper and more than capable with impressive size, speed and agility.
18. Cincinnati Bengals
Laiatu Latu, DE, UCLA
Latu's technical refinement fits in a rotation with Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson but it might not be long before he becomes the marquee edge for the Bengals.
19. Los Angeles Rams
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
He's arguably a better long-term prospect than Joe Alt and JC Latham, but Fashanu isn't quite an out-of-the-box play at left tackle. He'll have a chance to nail down the job on a revamped offensive line that is suddenly a strength.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas
A âtweener who becomes a 3-4 defensive end in the Steelers' scheme, Murphy's burst and high motor make for the ideal match as Pittsburgh rebuilds the front seven.
21. Miami Dolphins
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Miami could go with an interior lineman or select Fuaga, a power blocker with tackle and guard potential, to fill the massive gap created by right guard Robert Hunt's exit for Carolina.
22. Philadelphia Eagles
Chop Robinson, DE, Penn State
Significant changes came to the Eagles' defense after a late-season meltdown, and Robinson would help further refresh the pass rush alongside new addition Bryce Huff.
23. Minnesota Vikings
Darius Robinson, DT, Missouri
Robinson has great length, a stout frame and serious strength to further bolster Minnesota's defense.
24. Dallas Cowboys
Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Value at offensive tackle is tempting in this spot, but Wiggins could be a top-10 level NFL cornerback and is the best player available. Paired with Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, Wiggins would give the Cowboys a top-tier CB crew.
25. Green Bay Packers
Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
There's just something about the Hawkeyes that appeals to Green Bay decision-makers who add the versatile DeJean as a peer to 2023 first-rounder via Iowa, outside linebacker Lukas Van Ness.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Raw as a junior with only eight career starts, Mims has blackout-the-sun size at 6-8, 335 pounds and can break in at right tackle.
27. Arizona Cardinals
Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Signing Sean Murphy-Bunting is a solid start, but the Cardinals can't pass on Kool-Aid at the end of the first round. Can play man or zone and isn't afraid to step to the best receivers in the game.
28. Buffalo Bills
Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Coleman would be miscast as a No. 1 receiver or replacement for Stefon Diggs. But the Bills are setting up their offense to emphasize their talent at tight end, and can utilize the tall and reliable Coleman in downfield and contested catch spots.
29. Detroit Lions
Ennis Rakestraw, CB, Missouri
Willing in any role the Lions might choose, Rakestraw doesn't mind brawling with a competitive grade the Lions embrace.
30. Baltimore Ravens
Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
Fautanu has tackle and guard flexibility and can pave wide paths in the running game.
31. San Francisco 49ers
Graham Barton, C, Duke
Capable at center or guard, Barton also has experience at left tackle. He's been on the maybe list of at least five teams before getting to this point, and GM John Lynch shouldn't think twice.
32. Kansas City Chiefs
Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Patrick Mahomes gets another big-play toy in Worthy, who ran the fastest 40 ever at the combine (4.21 seconds) right after receiving a motivating text from the KC quarterback.
Second round
33. Carolina Panthers
Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
34. New England Patriots
Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
35. Arizona Cardinals
T'Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
36. Washington Commanders
Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
37. Los Angeles Chargers
Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
38. Tennessee Titans
Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
39. Carolina Panthers
Marshawn Kneeland, Edge, W. Michigan
40. Washington Commanders
Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State
41. Green Bay
Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
42. Houston Texans
Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
43. Atlanta Falcons
Cooper Beebe, OG, Kansas State
44. Las Vegas Raiders
Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
45. New Orleans Saints
Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
46. Indianapolis Colts
Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
47. New York Giants
Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
48. Jacksonville Jaguars
Zach Frazier, OL, West Virginia
49. Cincinnati Bengals
Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas
50. Philadelphia Eagles
Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon
51. Pittsburgh Steelers
Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia
52. Los Angeles Rams
Payton Wilson, LB, NC State
53. Philadelphia Eagles
Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
54. Cleveland Browns
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
55. Miami Dolphins
Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson
56. Dallas Cowboys
Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
57. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
58. Green Bay Packers
Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
59. Houston Texans
Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
60. Buffalo Bills
Chris Braswell, Edge, Alabama
61. Detroit Lions
Christian Haynes, OG, Connecticut
62. Baltimore Ravens
Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
63. San Francisco
Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
64. Kansas City Chiefs
Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale
Fins to pick up options for Jaylen Waddle, Jaelan Phillips
General manager Chris Grier confirmed Tuesday that the team will make it happen before the May 2 deadline.
The Dolphins drafted both in the first round in 2021, selecting Waddle with the No. 6 pick and Phillips at No. 18.
Waddle will earn $15.59 million and Phillips will earn $13.25 million, with both 2025 salaries fully guaranteed.
Waddle, 25, posted his third straight 1,000-yard season to begin his career in 2023, catching 72 passes for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns in 14 starts. He has 251 career receptions for 3,385 yards and 18 scores in 47 games (all starts).
Phillips, 24, recorded 6.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits and 43 tackles in eight games (six starts) last season. He has 22 sacks, 52 QB hits, 146 tackles, three fumble recoveries and one interception in 42 career games (26 starts).
Cowboys VP Stephen Jones 'holding money back' to re-sign big-ticket stars
From Jones' front office seat, he still views the Cowboys as all-in for 2024 despite passive spending in free agency, Jones said in a radio interview with 105.3 FM The Fan on Tuesday.
"We spend max, max money year in and year out. All 32 can only spend the same amount of money over a five-year stretch," Jones said. "When we're all said and done, we max out our salary cap every year. We will have done that. What comes with having a good roster, which we do, we're also looking towards signing our own guys.
"It doesn't mean it happens overnight. But when you're wanting to sign players like Dak (Prescott) and Micah (Parsons) and CeeDee (Lamb), then you have to hold money back if you want to have a realistic chance of signing those guys."
Prescott is entering the final year of a four-year, $160 million contract. His deal could be the most pressing because of the paved exit the terms of the deal would provide the 30-year-old.
Lamb is an option for the franchise tag next spring after he plays the 2024 season on a fifth-year option. But after setting a franchise record for receptions in an All-Pro season, Lamb plans to skip voluntary workouts as the market value for wide receivers continues to climb.
Waiting might not help in the case of Parsons, either. He's under contract for 2024 and the Cowboys hold a team option for his fifth season in 2025.
But the new rate for high-end pass rushers was reset in offseason deals for Brian Burns (five years, $87.5 million guaranteed, $141.5 million with the New York Giants) and Josh Allen (five years, $141.25 million, up to $88 million guaranteed).
Owner Jerry Jones said at the NFL owners meetings in March that Prescott's contract would be discussed with the understanding that the size of deals for Super Bowl-capable quarterbacks will impact the team's salary cap for the next "five years."
Reading between the lines, the Cowboys are likely to ask Prescott to carry more weight with less proven talent around him.
As for Stephen Jones, he still sees the franchise as being all-in on 2024.
"Everybody has their own definition of what that means, but I've never not known us to be all-in, nor have I known anyone we compete against not to be all-in," he said.
Andy Reid: Chiefs expect WR Rashee Rice to virtually attend meetings
Reid said Monday that the first phase of the voluntary workout program would include Rice as a virtual attendee, but offered no details on their conversations or how the Chiefs would move forward depending on the legal matter in Texas.
"I'm leaving that, like we've done most of these, for the law enforcement part to take place and then we will go from there with that," Reid said.
Rice was driving 119 mph before causing a six-vehicle crash March 30 on a Dallas highway, according to an arrest-warrant affidavit. He was captured on video near the site of the crash with four others leaving the scene, police said.
Rice is working out with multiple teammates in Texas, Reid said. Among them is quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who said Monday they will "continue that work" as Rice's case moves through the legal system.
Rice faces charges of aggravated assault, collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury.
He also faces civil lawsuits from those injured, including a $1 million suit filed Monday by two victims claiming damages that include "trauma to the brain, lacerations to the face, multiple contusions on the body, disfigurement, internal bleeding and other internal and external injuries."
Rice turned himself into police last week and said he would cooperate fully with police for his role in the accident.
Giants QB Daniel Jones aims to be ready for training camp
Jones added that his "neck is 100 percent healthy."
"That was a stinger-type injury that's pretty common in football, and that's calmed down and I feel good," Jones told reporters.
But all eyes are on Jones' knee. He underwent season-ending surgery on the injured right knee in late November after sustaining the injury in a 30-6 loss at Las Vegas on Nov. 5.
While Giants head coach Brian Daboll on Monday declined to give a timeline on Jones' recovery or whether he's "further ahead or behind," Jones had no such apprehension.
"The plan is to be ready to go by training camp," he said. "So, yeah, that's what I'm shooting for and feel good about being ready."
The Giants signed Drew Lock as a backup this offseason and own the No. 6 pick in the NFL draft later this month. The Giants have been linked to Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. New York also has QB Tommy DeVito under contract.
Jones told reporters he believes he's the best man for the job, when healthy.
"I do, yes."
Jones, who signed a four-year, $160 million contract last offseason, finished with two touchdown passes and six interceptions in six games in 2023. He also missed three games with a neck injury.
Jones is 22-36-1 as a starter with 62 touchdown passes and 40 picks in 60 games (59 starts) since being drafted with the No. 6 overall pick in 2019.
Lions re-sign RB Craig Reynolds, two others
Reynolds, 27, rushed for 179 yards and a touchdown in 17 regular-season games with the Lions in 2023, adding five catches for 47 yards. He added a 1-yard TD run in the divisional playoff win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Houston, 25, has contributed eight sacks in nine games (three starts) since being drafted by the Lions in the sixth round in 2022.
Awosika, 25, appeared in 15 games (three starts) in his second season with the Lions in 2023.
Coming off last season's 12-5 record and a trip to the NFC Championship Game, Detroit opened its voluntary offseason program on Monday.
Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb absent as voluntary workouts open
Lamb enters the final year of his contract, a fifth-year option worth a guaranteed $17.199 million, after being named first-team All-Pro in 2023.
Lamb broke Michael Irvin's single-season franchise marks with an NFL-high 135 catches and 1,749 yards, adding a career-high 12 touchdown catches in 17 starts in 2023.
Dallas faces difficult footing in contract talks with multiple key players from a group that includes Lamb, quarterback Dak Prescott and pass rusher Micah Parsons.
Prescott is in the final year of a four-year, $160 million contract, and Parsons has one year left on his rookie contract but will be on the fifth-year team option in 2025.
Report: Raiders sign OL Cody Whitehair to 1-year deal
The deal includes $1.4 million guaranteed and is worth up to $3 million with incentives, per the report.
The Chicago Bears released Whitehair, 31, on Feb. 15 after eight seasons and 124 games (118 starts). He played all 17 games last season, with 11 starts.
Chicago drafted the 6-foot-3, 316-pound lineman out of Kansas State in the second round in 2016.
Whitehair made the Pro Bowl in 2018, when the Bears finished 12-4 on the way to the NFC North title.
Raiders WR Davante Adams: No desire to be traded
"If I wanted to be gone, I'd be gone by now. This is where I want to be," Adams said at his football camp Sunday, according to multiple reports.
New general manager Tom Telesco told reporters at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine there was no plan to part with Adams.
"He's a Raider," Telesco said in Indianapolis.
Adams, 31, was linked to a reunion with former Green Bay Packers teammate Aaron Rodgers with the New York Jets.
Adams said in February he was excited instead to be back with new Raiders offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. The two got to know each other when Adams entered the NFL in 2014 and Getsy was the Packers' offensive quality control coach.
"He's the type of coach that's open-minded ... he's going to be open to hearing things from the veteran players that know how this thing works and the best way to do things," Adams said at the time.
Adams had 103 catches for 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games last season.
A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Adams has 872 catches for 10,781 yards and 95 touchdowns in 150 career games (143 starts) with the Packers (2014-21) and Raiders.
Telesco, 51, led the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers' front office from 2013-23 before the franchise dismissed both him and coach Brandon Staley after a disastrous 63-21 loss in Week 15 -- to the rival Raiders.
Eagles lock up WR DeVonta Smith through 2028 season
The team exercised his fifth-year option and agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension through 2028.
Smith's option for 2025 is worth $15.6 million and NFL Network reported the extension is for $75 million, with $51 million guaranteed.
Smith, 25, has tallied 240 catches for 3,178 yards and 19 touchdowns in 50 games (49 starts) since being drafted 10th overall in 2021 out of Alabama, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2020.
He set a career high with 95 catches in 2022 and posted his second straight 1,000-yard season with 1,066 in 2023.
The $25 million average annual value of Smith's extension equals fellow Philadelphia wideout A.J. Brown's deal and trails only the Miami Dolphins' Tyreek Hill ($30 million), the Las Vegas Raiders' Davante Adams ($28 million) and the Los Angeles Rams' Cooper Kupp ($26.7 million).
The Eagles signed offensive linemen Landon Dickerson (four years, $84 million) and Jordan Mailata (three years, $66 million) to long-term deals earlier this offseason.
Colts sign DT DeForest Buckner to two-year extension
"DeForest has been the epitome of what it means to be a Colt the last four years," Colts general manager Chris Ballard said in a statement Monday. "As one of the premier defensive tackles in the league, he is a destructive force on our defensive line. DeForest is one of the pillars of our locker room. His hard work, consistency and approach to the game are vital to the success of our team. We are fortunate to have DeForest and the caliber of man he is representing our organization. I'm excited for him and his family on this much deserved contract extension."
Under terms of the new deal, Indianapolis will pay Buckner a total of $46 million for the 2025 and 2026 seasons after the final year of his four-year, $84 million deal expires at the end of the upcoming season, according to ESPN and NFL Network.
The 30-year-old Buckner joins the top five at his position in terms of annual average salary.
The Colts acquired Buckner prior to the 2020 season from the San Francisco 49ers, and he's paid them back handsomely with 32.5 sacks in four seasons in Indianapolis, missing only one game.
A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Buckner has 61 career sacks, 544 tackles, nine forced fumbles and 10 fumble recoveries in 129 games with the 49ers and Colts.
Reports: Seahawks agree to deal with G Laken Tomlinson
According to ESPN, the deal could pay Tomlinson as much as $4 million.
Tomlinson, 32, is headed to his fourth NFL team, but he has proven to be one of the NFL's most reliable offensive lineman. In his nine-year career, the left guard has missed just one game (in 2017), and he has started every game since the beginning of the 2018 season.
The Lions used the 28th overall pick in the 2015 draft on Tomlinson, who spent two seasons in Detroit. He then played for the 49ers from 2017-21, making the Pro Bowl during his last year in San Francisco. The past two years, he played for the New York Jets.
The Seahawks have a vacancy at left guard after Damien Lewis, their starter at the position the past three years, exited in free agency to sign with the Carolina Panthers.
Per multiple reports, the Seahawks don't have enough salary-cap space to accommodate a $4 million deal for Tomlinson, meaning more changes would be in order for the club to finalize the contract.
Affidavit: Chiefs' Rashee Rice drove 119 mph before six-car crash
Rice's Lamborghini Urus reached 119 mph 4.5 seconds before the collision, according to the affidavit. A Chevrolet Corvette driven by SMU cornerback Teddy Knox was traveling 116 mph 7.5 seconds before the collision before slowing to 91 1.5 seconds before the crash.
The crash on the North Central Expressway (U.S. 75) left at least seven people with injuries.
The two cars "made multiple aggressive maneuvers to get through traffic," the affidavit said.
Rice and four other men were seen leaving the scene of the crash without seeing if any of the injured needed help.
Rice is facing one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury, according to police.
Rice turned himself into police on Thursday and was later released on bond. On April 3, he said he took "full responsibility" for his actions.
Knox has been suspended by the SMU football team. He turned himself in on Friday and faces the same charges as Rice, his former SMU teammate.
According to the affidavit, one woman who was injured in the crash sustained injuries to her head, neck and back. The woman told the Dallas Morning News that she was stranded on the highway with her 4-year-old son for about five hours after the crash.
Among the other injuries, the affidavit listed one person as having sustained "seriously bodily injury" to her face, head, torso and leg. The report said she also had post-concussion symptoms, including headaches, extreme light and sound sensitivity and brain fog.
She will be dealing with "a life of limited mobility and sight for an undetermined, extended period of time while she seeks treatment," the affidavit said.
Rice, who turns 24 on April 22, grew up in the North Texas suburb of North Richland Hills.
He recorded 79 catches and 938 yards with a team-leading seven touchdown receptions in 16 games (eight starts) after being selected by Kansas City in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He also had 26 catches for 262 yards and a score in four playoff games to help the Chiefs secure their second straight Super Bowl title.
QBs Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels headline NFL draft attendees
Completing the quarterback contingent at the draft, set for April 25-27, is Drake Maye of North Carolina. Williams (Southern California), Daniels (LSU) and Maye should have a short wait to hear their names called, with all three expected to be taken within the first handful of picks.
Quarterback JJ McCarthy (Michigan), who has risen up the draft boards this spring and is in the running for a top-10 pick, won't be on hand.
Four wide receivers also will be present in Detroit. Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State), Malik Nabers (LSU) and Rome Odunze (Washington) all likely will be selected in the top half of the first round, with Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU) also in the mix.
The other offensive player confirmed for Detroit is offensive tackle J.C. Latham (Alabama).
On the defensive side of the ball, edge rushers Darius Robinson (Missouri), Laiatu Latu (UCLA) and Dallas Turner (Alabama) have said they will be there. Robinson grew up in suburban Detroit.
Cornerbacks Terrion Arnold (Alabama) and Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo) also accepted the NFL's invitations.
The Chicago Bears have the No. 1 pick in the draft and are expected to select Williams, likely beginning a run on quarterbacks with the Washington Commanders and New England Patriots scheduled to follow the Bears.
Backup QB Kellen Mond agrees to terms with Saints
The team announced the deal on Friday without any details of the length or financial value.
The Saints have been on the lookout for a backup QB this offseason after the departure of Jameis Winston to the Cleveland Browns as a free agent.
They previously signed journeyman Nathan Peterman and also have Jake Haener, a 2023 fourth-round pick, on board as a prospective understudy to Derek Carr.
The Minnesota Vikings selected Mond in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
He spent his first season with the Vikings, was with the Cleveland Browns briefly in 2022 and spent much of 2023 on the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad. He has appeared in one regular-season game, completing two passes for 5 yards at Green Bay in Week 17 of 2021.
Mond, 24, was a four-year starter at Texas A&M and threw for 9,661 yards, 71 touchdowns and 27 interceptions.
Chiefs WR Rashee Rice surrenders to police
According to multiple media reports, Rice surrendered to Glenn Heights, Texas, police, then was booked into the regional jail in DeSoto, Texas. He subsequently was released on bond.
Police allege that Rice, driving a Lamborghini, and SMU cornerback Teddy Knox, driving a Corvette, were speeding on the North Central Expressway (U.S. 75) when they caused a chain-reaction wreck that left four people with minor injuries.
Rice and Knox each face one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury.
Rice's lawyer, Royce West, said in a statement: "I want to re-emphasize Mr. Rice's continued cooperation with law enforcement. Mr. Rice acknowledges his actions and feels deeply for those injured as a result of this accident. Our legal team is now tasked with reviewing all legal documents."
Last week, Rice came forward to apologize to the injured parties and accept responsibility for the accidents.
He posted to his Instagram story on April 3, "Today I met with Dallas PD investigators regarding Saturday's accident. I take full responsibility for my part in this matter and will continue to cooperate with the necessary authorities. I sincerely apologize to everyone impacted in Saturday's accident."
The occupants of the Lamborghini and a Corvette left the scene without checking to see if anyone needed medical attention or providing their information, according to police.
The Chiefs have not commented on Rice's status, but SMU suspended Knox from the team on Thursday.