Matthew Stafford, Travis Hunter, Travis Kelce and More NFL News
By Sigmund Bloom - Exclusive to Footballguys
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News From the NFL
The league is considering moving a kickoff touchback to the 35-yard line.
Why It Matters: The changes to the kickoff rules last year resulted in a 57% increase in returns. Moving the touchback to the 35 would encourage teams to keep the ball in play on kickoffs and boost kickoff return yardage totals across the league. If you are in a return yardage league, you might want to put in offers for top kickoff returners KaVontae Turpin, Marvin Mims Jr., and Rashid Shaheed before this possibility becomes more widely known.
News From AFC Teams
Baltimore Ravens News
GM Eric DeCosta said he expects an "amazing" season from TE Mark Andrews and that the team will "figure out all of the roster machinations" when discussing Andrews' standing with the team.
Why It Matters: Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic said the team will "listen" if teams call about Andrews and that they "could be compelled to deal him for the right offer," but he'd be surprised if they "move on" without a "legit" trade offer. That makes it sound like Andrews will be with the Ravens in 2025. However, Isaiah Likely should still have a big bump coming in the next year or two, so it's a good idea to "overpay" for him now, knowing that he'll become one of Lamar Jackson's primary pass catchers as long as the team signs him to a second contract. Likely and Andrews are both going to be free agents in 2026.
Buffalo Bills News
The Bills signed WR Khalil Shakir to a four-year extension worth up to $60.2 million with $32 million guaranteed.
Why It Matters: This looks like a bargain right now, and will become an even bigger bargain when we see wide receiver contract numbers come in over the next wo offseasons. Shakir is Josh Allen's most trusted receiver on third down and the most consistent fantasy option in the "everyone eats" Bills pass offense. Shakir is currently 79th overall in early Underdog drafts, which is a very reasonable price for a proven producer who is still on the growth side of his career arc.
Cleveland Browns News
GM Andrew Berry said the team views WR/CB Travis Hunter (Colorado) primarily as a wide receiver.
Why It Matters: The Browns pick second and could take Hunter, so this should relieve some worries about the amount of involvement he'll have on offense when calculating his fantasy value. Multiple people reporting from the combine have also said that the majority of scouts and analysts see Hunter as a wide receiver first and foremost and as the best wide receiver in the draft. Even if Hunter is a part-time player on offense, even the best wide receivers are only targeted on a small percentage of plays, so don't overthink his rookie draft and redraft value because of his two-way game. His current Underdog ADP of 132nd overall is screaming value. He's also undervalued if he falls past the 5th or 6th pick of early dynasty rookie drafts.
OL Joel Bitonio said he's uncertain about whether he will play in 2025.
Why It Matters: There's no clear signs that the Browns will trade Myles Garrett at this moment, but if Bitonio retires, it could create another source of heat. The core that made the team competitive at times since they drafted Garrett in 2017 is crumbling, making it more difficult to justify keeping the remaining members of the band together. Trading Garrett would signal a tear down and other veterans could ask their way out of town. Stay tuned.
Kansas City Chiefs News
Despite some talk of retirement, tight end Travis Kelce confirmed he will return to the Chiefs in 2025.
Why It Matters: Kelce's ADP of TE10 and 116 overall in early Underdog drafts basically assumes that Kelce will play in 2025. He had a three-week outburst when the Chiefs' wide receiver group was depleted in the middle of the season, but otherwise was pedestrian most weeks. He's a player in decline and priced about right in redraft and dynasty. This could be a good moment to move him in dynasty leagues with a strong class at tight end that will give dynasty league players good options into the third round of rookie drafts. Noah Gray's speculative value for 2025 takes a hit with this news.
GM Brett Veach said the Chiefs will look to bring WR Marquise Brown back for the 2025 season.
Why It Matters: Brown barely played in 2024, but there were signs that he had instant chemistry with Patrick Mahomes II last offseason. He should come cheaply after an injury-marred season, and the Chiefs' interest is positive for Brown's 2025 fantasy outlook. Coming back to the Chiefs is among his best outcomes for fantasy in free agency.
The Chiefs have informed Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith that they will use the franchise tag on him.
Why It Matters: The Chiefs' offensive line was dominated by the Eagles' front four in the Super Bowl, so they are going to have to invest in the offensive line either way. Tagging Smith effectively keeps him off the free-agent market. The Chiefs are now obligated to offer him a one-year contract worth about $23.4 million, making Smith the highest-paid guard in football. The two sides will have until July 15 to agree to a long-term contract. If no deal is reached by that date, Smith will play the 2025 season on his franchise tender.
Las Vegas Raiders News
Tom Brady and Rams QB Matthew Stafford met at a ski resort in Montana.
Why It Matters: The Brady effect almost got Ben Johnson to go to Las Vegas as head coach, so we can't underestimate the effect this could have on Stafford's future. The Raiders should be more willing to break the bank on Stafford's next contract than the Rams. Just the possibility of Stafford ending up in Las Vegas should add speculative value to Brock Bowers' and Jakobi Meyers' stock. The most likely outcome remains that Stafford is a Ram for the 2025 season, but this is a curveball that caused a feud between NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Justin Schultz after Rapoport suggested that the meeting was a chance encounter after Schultz broke the scoop. The two also had a confrontation at an Indianapolis Starbucks to thicken the plot.
Miami Dolphins News
OT Terron Armstead has taken a pay cut to the league minimum while he decides whether to play next season.
Why It Matters: Armstead has been the cornerstone of the Dolphins offensive line since 2022. The high-powered offense cratered last year, in part because of the offensive line, so this isn't encouraging for the 2025 outlook. Armstead's move is probably a precursor to his retirement and favor to the team to help them explore options to replace him.
Head coach Mike McDaniel said WR Tyreek Hill had surgery on his wrist injury.
Why It Matters: The injury is at least partially responsible for Hill's disappointing 2024, but not the only reason his production fell off. He's currently going at the end of the second round of early Underdog drafts, which is a huge dropoff from his top 5 draft status in fantasy leagues last year. McDaniel added that Hill should be able to start catching balls again in the summer before camp, adding some uncertainty to his outlook. Jaylen Waddle is going about 30 picks after Hill in early drafts and might be the better proposition if you want to get back in on the Dolphins passing game.
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