The news cycle for the NFL has become year-round. To get an edge on your fantasy football leaguemates, let's take a look at the biggest NFL news stories from the past week.
News from AFC Teams
Baltimore Ravens News
The Ravens used the franchise tag on DT Justin Madubuike.
Why It Matters: J.K. Dobbins was never a serious consideration here, coming off an Achilles tear. Madubuike took a big step forward in 2023 and made himself a ton of money. The Ravens need cap room and will push to get Madubuike under contract long-term before free agency opens next week. Baltimore was the #1 seed in the AFC last year, but they will need to address running back, edge defender, and the offensive line (at a minimum) in free agency and the draft.
Denver Broncos News
The Broncos will release QB Russell Wilson.
Why It Matters: This move comes as no surprise as Wilson would get $37 million guaranteed if he was on the roster on March 17. The Steelers have been mentioned in connection with Wilson. There's mutual interest - and they are the betting market favorite to land him - but they could also trade for Justin Fields, add Ryan Tannehill (whom new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith revived in Tennessee), or just stand pat with Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph, as there's some belief that the team thinks Pickett's lack of development is more on former offensive coordinator Matt Canada than on the 2023 first-round pick. The Falcons, Raiders, Patriots, and Vikings are also candidates for Wilson, who can afford to take a very cheap one-year contract. He's going to get $39 million this year. The Broncos are on the hook for that amount minus whatever he gets paid from his new team. Wilson and the Broncos seem to have parted with hard feelings, so Wilson can force the Broncos to pay over $38 million if he signs for the veteran minimum, which is under one million dollars. It's not clear if Wilson will be brought in as a starter, and he might have to wait until after the draft to sign somewhere, as there's not a strong market for his services.
Houston Texans News
The Texans signed TE Dalton Schultz to a three-year, $36 million deal.
Why It Matters: Schultz will get $23.5 guaranteed on the deal, which comes in just a little under the $12.7 franchise tag number for tight ends. This deal will give him more security and give the Texans more cap flexibility in free agency, where they figure to be in on some of the big names. Schultz made a little over $6 million on a prove-it deal last year and proved it as one of C.J. Stroud's favorite targets. You can get Schultz in the 11th round of early best ball drafts as TE15 off the board, right in between Cole Kmet and Luke Musgrave, which seems very reasonable for a solid option with an ascending quarterback.
Indianapolis Colts News
The Colts used the non-exclusive franchise tag on WR Michael Pittman Jr
Why It Matters: Other teams can negotiate with Pittman and sign him to an offer sheet because the Colts used the non-exclusive tag, but the team that signs Pittman would have to pay two first-round picks if the Colts don't match the offer, so Pittman isn't going anywhere. The team has been trying to sign him to a long-term deal, and they are not expected to try to trade Pittman. Pittman has said he sees the tag as a sign of respect and doesn't seem uncomfortable about the prospect of getting $21.8 million to play for the Colts this season. Pittman was more productive with Gardner Minshew than Anthony Richardson last year, but he is still going in the mid-third round of early best-ball drafts. Pittman will have to take a step forward from his production with Richardson last year to deliver third-round value.
Jacksonville Jaguars News
The Jaguars used the franchise on EDGE Josh Allen.
Why It Matters: The tag amount is a smidge over $24 million. Only quarterbacks had a higher number than edge defenders. Jacksonville has expressed optimism about signing Allen to a long-term deal, just as they did with TE Evan Engram and OT Cam Robinson after they used the tag on them for the last two years. If they had been able to sign Allen before the tag deadline, they could have used it on Calvin Ridley to ensure that he remained on the team next season. The Jaguars will only have to give up a third round to Atlanta instead of a second because they haven't (and presumably won't) re-sign Ridley before the new league year starts on March 13. If they can sign him after that, they will have their WR1 and be able to navigate the trade condition in the most favorable way, but there should be more than one team in on Ridley, likely raising his price.
Miami Dolphins News
The Dolphins and TE Jonnu Smith agreed on a two-year, $10 million deal.
Why It Matters: The Dolphins didn't tag elite DT Christian Wilkins and made a lot of cap cuts, including CB Xavien Howard, so they are probably interested in getting a compensatory pick back for Wilkins, which means they will be drawn to signing players that were released (like Smith) since they don't count against the compensatory pick formula. Smith probably won't be relevant for fantasy, but we said the same thing about him in 2023, and he was actually a useful waiver wire tight end despite sharing targets with Kyle Pitts in an anemic pass offense. His combination of blocking, speed, and a bully's game after the catch should fit right into Mike McDaniel's offense.
New England Patriots News
The Patriots used the transition tag on S Kyle Dugger.
Why It Matters: Leave it to the Patriots to use the transition tag. They will save $3.3 million from the franchise tag amount if Dugger plays under the one-year, $13.8 million transition tag contract. If another team signs Dugger and the Patriots don't match the deal, they won't get any compensation. In this case, with a glut of safeties on the market, allowing other teams to negotiate with Dugger with no fear of losing draft capital if the Patriots don't match could actually help New England. If their offenses show Dugger that he won't get what he is seeking in a soft safety market, he could end up signing a more team-friendly deal than he would have before the team used the tag and the market revealed itself.
News from NFC Teams
Carolina Panthers News
The Panthers released TE Hayden Hurst.
Why It Matters: Hurst didn't want to take a pay cut, and the Panthers didn't want to give him a $1.85 million roster bonus on March 16, so here we are. The move only saves the team $52,000 in cap room as it's only the second year of a three-year, $21.75 million deal. Carolina will have $9.9 in dead cap after releasing Hurst. He missed the last eight games with a concussion but said he was cleared after the season. While we hope he doesn't have concussion problems in the future, the time of fantasy relevance has passed for Hurst (and for C.J. Uzomah - another tight end that Joe Burrow made a lot of money - who the Jets released this week). 2021 third-round pick Tommy Tremble should get more playing time in 2024. Keep him on your radar if you play in a deep tight end premium league.
The Panthers used the franchise tag on EDGE Brian Burns.
Why It Matters: The Panthers are in line to play Burns $24 million to play for them this season. The previous general manager turned down the offer of two first-round picks and one second-round pick from the Rams, and Scott Fitterer didn't deal Burns away at the trade deadline last year. At the combine, new general manager Dan Morgan said "all options are on the table" regarding Burns. Morgan has until July 15 to get a long-term deal done with Burns. We shouldn't rule out the possibility of a trade here if Burns gives the team a signal that he won't sign a long-term deal with them.
Chicago Bears News
The Bears used the franchise tag on CB Jaylon Johnson. He later agreed to a four-year, $76 million contract.
Why It Matters: The team had been trying to get that deal done before the tag deadline, and Johnson said he wanted to remain a Bear. Still, general manager Ryan Poles said the team made a "strong" contract offer, but "it takes two tango". Well, Johnson was in a dancing mood as soon as the tag deadline passed. The team has a great trio of young corners, but Johnson is the shutdown corner of the group, and now he is set up to be with the team until 2028.
Dallas Cowboys News
The Cowboys will keep QB Trey Lance and pay his $4.25 million roster bonus due this summer.
Why It Matters: $4.25 million isn't chump change, so this at least shows the Cowboys still see something in Lance. The report is that they think he has improved, although it is in their interest to say that if they want to trade their third string quarterback. The Vikings could be a trade partner if they don't keep Kirk Cousins. Rich Eisen said he heard a rumor that Lance, a Minnesota native, could be a "possible solve" for the team if Cousins walks. We haven't seen Lance flop repeatedly on the field, so we should still be open to seeing why the 49ers traded up for him at some point in the future. He's an easy buy low in superflex dynasty leagues.
Minnesota Vikings News
The Vikings released RB Alexander Mattison.
Why It Matters: No surprise here as Mattison mostly flopped in his opportunity to take over the Vikings backfield. Ty Chandler had a few moments late last season and should be first in line to get a shot among backs currently on the roster, which also include speedster Kene Nwangwu and practice squad back DeWayne McBride. The team should add another back, but for now, Chandler has moved up into the 10th round of early best ball drafts on the promise of being able to lead the backfield next season.
New York Giants News
TE Darren Waller said he is still undecided about whether he is going to continue to play or retire.
Why It Matters: Waller had a dazzling camp and had a few big games in the first half of the season, but on the whole ended up underperforming along with the Giants offense, and then was injured for five games in the middle of the season. Even if he does play in 2024, he has been an afterthought in early best ball drafts, falling into the 13th round or later after this news went public. 2022 fourth-round pick Daniel Bellinger would likely get a chance to start if Waller retires, but he is only fodder for deep tight end premium leagues and waiver wire watch lists.
Philadelphia Eagles News
C Jason Kelce announced his retirement.
Why It Matters: The Eagles have 2022 second round pick Cam Jurgens, who Kelce said he liked in the draft process, but downplayed his role in the selection. That's who will take over, probably keeping the football in good hands before it is snapped to Jalen Hurts. Don't expect the Eagles offense to drop off much, if at all, even though Kelce is a possible future Hall-of-Famer and arguably on the Philadelphia Eagles' Mt. Rushmore for how much he fit the city's mentality.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers News
The Buccaneers used the franchise tag on S Antoine Winfield Jr
Why It Matters: Winfield was an IDP force last year, so we can count on him staying in the fantasy-friendly role he had in Todd Bowles defense. The Bucs will seek to sign Winfield long term before the July 15 deadline. They went into the offseason with Winfield, Mike Evans, and Baker Mayfield all heading to free agency, and have been able to retain two of them, with Mayfield likely to return to the team unless someone comes over top of them with a bigger offer.
The Buccaneers signed WR Mike Evans to a two-year deal worth up to $52 million.
Why It Matters: The deal is made up of $41 million of base salary and $11 million of incentives, and it is very team-friendly cap-wise for this year, which should help them retain Baker Mayfield and allow Evans to easily return value on the third round price tag he comes with in early best ball drafts after finishing a WR9 last season.
Washington Commanders News
The Commanders released TE Logan Thomas and signed TE Zach Ertz.
Why It Matters: The Cole Turner era only lasted a few days. The release of Thomas opens up $6.5 million in cap room. He was a reliable target and admirably made his way as a tight end in Washington after failing to stick as a quarterback despite a notable career at the position at Virginia Tech. He played on five teams over six years before hitting with Washington. Thomas will try to catch on elsewhere, and the Commanders will look to Ertz to replace him. Ertz's deal is only worth "up to" five million, so the team isn't making a big bet on Ertz. Don't close the book on Turner mattering in fantasy football at some point in 2024.
