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NFL | Isaiah Buggs receives some legal punishment Fri Jul 26, 01:11 PM
Free-agent DL Isaiah Buggs (Chiefs) was convicted of two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and sentenced to a year of hard labor - of which he will serve 60 days - according to the Associated Press on Friday, July 26.
Link to storyIsaiah Buggs player page
Free-agent RB Kenyan Drake announced his retirement from the NFL on Friday, July 19.
Link to storyKenyan Drake player page
Free-agent OT Tyre Phillips (quadriceps) is expected to be fully cleared by mid-August, according to his agent.
Link to storyUpdating a previous report, free-agent Randall Cobb is not officially retired from the NFL and is still open to playing if an opportunity arises, according to sources Thursday, July 18.
Footballguys view: Cobb is stepping into the booth as an analyst for the SEC Network, but he could make a comeback in the right situation. He's not the same player he used to be, and Cobb caught just five passes for 39 yards and a touchdown in 11 games last season. |
Randall Cobb player page
Former Green Bay Packers and New York Jets WR Randall Cobb has retired from the NFL and accepted a position with the SEC Network as a studio analyst.
Link to storyRandall Cobb player page
Free-agent S Justin Simmons (Broncos) said he wants to sign with a contender and is willing to wait for the right opportunity.
Link to storyJustin Simmons player page
Free-agent CB Stephon Gilmore (Cowboys) said he is still waiting to sign with a team but believes he can be a starting cornerback in the NFL.
Link to storyStephon Gilmore player page
Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders replied to a tweet on X July 12, which refuted a report that he had a list of teams he preferred to play for. The teams listed were the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens or Philadelphia Eagles.
Link to storyFree-agent WR Deven Thompkins (Buccaneers) won't face punishment from the league after they didn't find sufficient evidence in his domestic abuse allegations.
Footballguys view: Per NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy (via FOX Sports' Greg Auman), Thompkins has been cleared of accusations from his wife of abuse: "Following a review of the matter, the league did not discover sufficient evidence to support a finding of a violation of the personal conduct policy," McCarthy said. |
Free-agent S Justin Simmons (Broncos) is not sure when he'll sign with a team in free agency, he said on Thursday, July 11. 'Who knows? I could sign tomorrow, I could sign two weeks into camp, I could sign the first game of the season. You just never know how these things go,' he said. 'So, it's caused me to slow down and give up control because it's not in my control.'
Footballguys view: Simmons is going to be on a roster before the start of the regular season. Even though he's still a free agent at this time of year, Simmons should command a nice salary - but he's likely looking for a contender (and may have to take a reduced price). We'll see who gets a deal done in the next month or so. |
Justin Simmons player page
Free-agent S Justin Simmons (Broncos) is drawing considerable interest, and NFL insider Ian Rapoport thinks Simmons may be the best free agent still available.
Footballguys view: Simmons is a ball hawk at the safety position, and some team is going to get a great player. The Broncos moved for salary cap reasons, but Simmons can still play good football. We should see Simmons sign with a contender before the start of the regular season. |
Justin Simmons player page
Free-agent RB Leonard Fournette (Bills) is 'in the best shape of his career,' according to his agent, who expects him to 'have a new home soon.'
Footballguys view: Fournette's agents, Ari Nissim and Pat Capra, had Adam Schefter post on social media that Fournette wants to be in training camp. While the newly hired reps succeeded in getting the word out, whether any teams want the 29-year-old Fournette remains an open question. Profootballtalk.com reminded readers that after the Buccaneers released him in March of 2023, it took Fournette seven months to sign with another team, and when the Bills finally signed him in October, he managed just 12 carries for 40 yards in two games. At this point, he's a long shot to make a regular-season roster. |
Leonard Fournette player page
Free-agent WR Tre Nixon (Patriots) announced his retirement from professional football Monday, July 8.
Link to storyTre Nixon player page
Free-agent S Tashaun Gipson (49ers) intends to play following his six-game suspension due to violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy, he announced Monday, July 8.
Link to storyTashaun Gipson Sr player page
Free-agent WR Martavis Bryant (Cowboys) said he believes he can help a team if they are willing to give him an opportunity. He said he talked with Carolina Panthers senior assistant recently but did not indicate he is close to a deal.
Footballguys view: Bryant was with the Cowboys' practice squad for the 2023 season, but he hasn't played a regular-season snap since 2018 when he was with the Raiders. Earlier this year, Bryant was scheduled to workout with the Commanders and now the Panthers may be interested. Bryant may land on a roster, but he's a long shot to do much. |
Martavis Bryant player page
Carolina Panthers Bryce Young (21.5%) and Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud (19.9) did not share much in common during their rookie seasons, but the top two picks in the 2023 NFL Draft ranked first and second, respectively, in the league in bad-throw percentage last year, according to Pro Football Reference.
Footballguys view: As rookies in 2023, both quarterbacks had some struggles - Young much more than Stroud. With a year under their belt, we imagine both quarterbacks will improve their on-target percentage. We certainly love the weapons around Stroud more than we do the guys around Young. While Stroud looks like a superstar in the making, Young has a ton of questions about him entering 2024. |
Free-agent CB Patrick Peterson (Steelers) said he will be ready for training camp if a team wants to sign him.
Link to storyPatrick Peterson player page
Updating a previous report, free-agent S Tashaun Gipson (49ers) has been suspended six games for violating the NFL's performance enhancing substances policy.
Link to storyTashaun Gipson Sr player page
Free-agent S Tashaun Gipson (49ers) was suspended for the first six games of the 2024 season for an unspecified reason on Tuesday, July 2.
Link to storyTashaun Gipson Sr player page
Free-agent P Marquette King (UFL), who earned All-UFL honors with the Arlington Renegades, made a recent post on his personal X account expressing his interest in returning to the National Football League. King hasn't punted in the NFL since 2018, when he played four games for the Denver Broncos.
Link to storyFree-agent C Connor Williams (Dolphins) wants to remain at center with his next team and does not want to move to offensive guard, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus.
Link to storyFree-agent DE Kemoko Turay (Falcons) is expected to receive interest from multiple teams, according to sources.
Link to storyKemoko Turay player page
Free-agent LB Shaquille Leonard (Eagles) has continued doing offseason training in the hopes of making an NFL roster this year. He ended the 2023 season with the Philadelphia Eagles but has only played in 17 games over the last two years due to various injuries.
Footballguys view: The descent from the elite to looking for work was swift for Leonard. The Eagles didn't activate him for their playoff loss to Tampa, so the writing was on the wall. Leonard said, "If it happens, it happens. If it don't, it don't", so he seems to be at peace at the possibility of his career being over after six seasons. |
Shaquille Leonard player page
Free-agent WR James Washington (Colts) is looking to return to the NFL and has received interest from several teams. He could start working out for teams in the near future.
Link to storyJames Washington player page
Free-agent OT Tyre Phillips (quadriceps) is on track with his recovery from a quadriceps injury and is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.
Link to storyFree-agent C Connor Williams (knee) is receiving interest from several teams and expects to be ready to play once the regular season begins. He plans to sign with a team before the start of training camp.
Footballguys view: The Eagles, Jets, Chargers, Bears, and Giants are all possible landing spots for Williams, who is a solid starter that can upgrade unit with questions on the interior offensive line. A return to the Dolphins isn't out of the question. Williams is one of the more consequential free agents left on the market. |
Free-agent OT David Bakhtiari (Packers) said he is happy with his progress from his latest knee surgery and hopes to be able to play a few more seasons.
Link to storyFree-agent CB Stephon Gilmore (Cowboys) is 'being patient right now' when it comes to signing with a team, he told media members Friday, June 14. He said no team has met his asking price yet.
Link to storyStephon Gilmore player page
Free-agent TE Jimmy Graham (Saints) said he is not sure if he will be retiring and will contact the New Orleans Saints before making a final decision.
Link to storyJimmy Graham player page
Free-agent PK Jake Bates (Texans) is receiving interest from the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens, according to a source. All three teams are looking to meet with Bates.
Footballguys view: Bates was a standout UFL kicker with makes from 58, 62, and 64 yards among his 17 conversions out of 22 attempts. He was kicking in Ford Field, so it makes sense that the Lions would be looking at him. The Packers could see him as an alternative to Anders Carlson, who missed six field goal attempts and five extra point attempts last year. The Ravens won't be replacing Justin Tucker, but Tucker won't see much work in camp or the preseason, and Bates could build his resume for another team to add him when they find they don't have a true winner in their kicker battle. |
Free-agent WR Pharoh Cooper (Cardinals) announced his retirement from professional football Monday, June 10.
Link to storyPharoh Cooper player page
Free-agent CB Steven Nelson (Texans) has announced his retirement from professional football. He did receive interest from the Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams, Washington Commanders and Miami Dolphins this offseason but has decided to retire, according to sources.
Link to storySteven Nelson player page
Updating a previous report, Free-agent C Corey Linsley (Chargers) is expected to retire following his release from the Los Angeles Chargers, the team revealed on Wednesday, June 5.
Link to storyFree-agent RB Ryan Nall (Bears) announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday, June 3.
Link to storyRyan Nall player page
Free-agent DE Yannick Ngakoue (Bears) said he has talked with a few teams this offseason and is looking for the right opportunity. He said he wants to show that he is still one of the best pass rushers in the NFL.
Link to storyYannick Ngakoue player page
Retired S Tony Jefferson (Giants) intends to come out of retirement and resume his playing career in 2024, according to a source. Jefferson spent last season as a scouting intern for the Baltimore Ravens.
Link to storyTony Jefferson player page
Free-agent C Billy Price announced his retirement from the NFL due to medical reasons Saturday, May 25.
Link to storyFree-agent RB Dalvin Cook (Ravens) said he would like to go to training camp with a team this upcoming season to show he can be a productive player.
Link to storyDalvin Cook player page
Free-agent OT David Bakhtiari (knee) reportedly had a positive follow-up exam on his knee with a Chicago-based doctor, who proclaimed Bakhtiari is on schedule for a 2024 season return.
Link to storyFree-agent RB David Johnson announced his retirement from the NFL on Sunday, May 19.
Footballguys view: A third-round pick out of Northern Iowa in 2015 (Cardinals), Johnson was one of the best in the league when he was at his peak earlier in his career. That happened back in 2016, and Johnson never captured those numbers again (over 1,000 yards rushing, and over 850 yards receiving). Johnson was out of football in 2023, and he only briefly played with the Saints in 2022. |
David Johnson player page
Free-agent RB Dalvin Cook (Ravens) has been 'taking calls' from teams, although he didn't say which ones specifically, he said on Saturday, May 18.
Footballguys view: Cook is not the same player he used to be, but he could provide veteran depth for some team in need. Last year, Cook played for the Jets but was released after the season. The Ravens ended up signing him to the practice squad early in 2024, and he was active for the team's Divisional Round win over the Texans (eight carries, 23 yards). Cook is a seasoned veteran who will be ready when he gets the call, but that might not come until training camp and the preseason in August. |
Dalvin Cook player page
Free-agent DT Michael Brockers (Lions) has announced his retirement from professional football.
Link to storyMichael Brockers player page
Free-agent WR Albert Wilson (Raiders) announced his retirement in a post on his Instagram account Friday, May 10.
Link to storyAlbert Wilson player page
Free-agent CB Stephon Gilmore (Cowboys) said he wants to continue his playing career but is looking to wait for the right opportunity before signing with a team.
Link to storyStephon Gilmore player page
Green Bay Packers RB MarShawn Lloyd was being looked at by the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants during the 2024 NFL Draft.
Footballguys view: That makes sense, and not selecting Lloyd could be a move both teams regret. Lloyd is a speed back who can make big plays as a runner or receiver out of the backfield. As a rookie, Lloyd will compete with AJ Dillon to be the backup to Josh Jacobs for the Packers. |
Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders was the top quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft class if he entered, according to one longtime NFL scout. 'He was [the top QB] for me if he came out this year,' the scout said. 'You have to manage him a little differently, and Deion (Sanders) is going to be heavily involved... so you have to be prepared to deal with that... but I love watching that kid play. He's a born winner.'
Link to storyFree-agent RB Duke Johnson (Bills) announced his retirement from the NFL on Sunday, April 5.
Link to storyDuke Johnson Jr player page
Free-agent CB Chris Harris Jr. (Saints) announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday, April 30.
Link to storyChris Harris Jr player page
Undrafted free-agent QB Brennan Armstrong (North Carolina State) is scheduled to participate in the Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs upcoming rookie minicamps.
Link to storyTexas A&M OG Layden Robinson had official visits with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft.
Link to story