Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said Aidan O'Connell has "earned the right" to compete for a starting role. (Source: NFL.com)
Fantasy Impact: This comes with the rumors of the Raiders considering drafting a quarterback early next month. "At the end of the day, listen, Aidan O'Connell played his a** off. He did a hell of a job for us," Pierce said. in an interview. "You're talking about a kid that has the mental toughness to play in the National Football League. Whatever happens and whatever we do it has to go through Aidan O'Connell. Being honest with you because he's earned that right."
Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith will be the team's starter, new head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed, with QB Sam Howell to be the backup. (Source: Tom Pelissero on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: In early March, Macdonald was noncommittal on whether or not Smith would be the team's starter in 2023. When new regimes come in, it provides the opportunity for starting roles to shift as loyalty is reset. Further uncertainty came when Seattle traded for Howell, albeit the acquisition was a low-cost move. However, Smith will be the starter, says Macdonald; the veteran passer has 7,906 yards and 50 touchdowns through the air over the last two seasons en route to consecutive Pro Bowl nods.
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said that third-year QB Sam Howell "knows" he's the team's backup behind veteran passer Geno Smith. (Source: Tom Pelissero on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Macdonald continued by saying that he believes Howell has a "bright future" that the team believes in. While that could be nothing more than coach speak, the Seahawks went out of their way to acquire the former fifth-rounder via trade. Howell has proven statistical production (3,946 passing yards and 21 touchdowns in 2023) but also was not efficient (21 interceptions and 23rd in EPA+CPOE composite in 2023). He could have a chance to develop behind Smith, who has two years left on his deal.
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll said that when veteran QB Daniel Jones "gets back, he'll be the guy," but was noncommittal on a timetable or a Week 1 return. (Source: Coral Smith, nfl.com)
Fantasy Impact: Daboll seemed confident in newly acquired QB Drew Lock, saying that "he knows what his role is going to be." However, he did reaffirm that, for now, Jones is the QB1 in New York. However, Daboll reportedly "balked at committing to a Week 1 return" but said Jones continues to improve health-wise. The Giants may give Jones one more year before it's easier to cut him after 2024, though their draft choices will indicate their plans.
The Baltimore Ravens are meeting with free agent WR Michael Gallup on Thursday. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: While the Ravens' passing attack was improved from years past, it's still a thin group that's expected to lose Odell Beckham Jr.; with a three-wide grouping of Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor, Baltimore could use another veteran. Gallup could provide a vertical threat that the team does not currently have.
Trent Brown is scheduled to visit the Bengals on Tuesday. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: The Bengals recently lost Jonah Williams in free agency. Brown started 33 games across the past three seasons with the Patriots before he had had his contract voided in February which made him a free agent.
Free agent RB Alexander Mattison is set to visit with the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday. (Source: Jordan Schultz on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Mattison, a third-round pick from the 2019 NFL Draft, spent the first five seasons of his career with the Vikings. Operating as the RB1 in 2023, Mattison combined for 892 scrimmage yards and three total touchdowns but averaged just 3.9 yards per rush attempt. With Josh Jacobs in Green Bay, the Raiders could take a bet on Mattison bouncing back, pairing him with RB Zamir White.
The Jets have made Allen Lazard available in trade talks this offseason. (Source: Dianna Russini on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Lazard is due a $10 million salary this season. He was a healthy scratch for much of last year, and will now look for a fresh start if he can be moved.
The Cincinnati Bengals are bringing in DL Teair Tart for a visit on Thursday. (Source: Jordan Schultz on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Tart could join 2023 teammate Sheldon Rankins in Cincinnati after the two played together in Houston. In 11 games with Tennessee last season, Tart had eight tackles for loss but was waived and claimed by the Texans. Tart could help provide depth for Cincy's defensive interior.
Veteran WR Tyler Boyd is gaining interest from the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs, with the New York Jets considered a dark horse candidate for the slot receiver. (Source: Mark Kaboly on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: The Steelers, who just traded away Diontae Johnson, could be a good fit for Boyd, needing further depth and a new underneath route-running WR. The Chiefs are also interesting, as they need a savvy veteran and could give Boyd a role similar to that of JuJu Smith-Schuster in 2022's Super Bowl run. According to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, Jets players are pushing the front office to acquire Boyd, with New York being another team in need of WR depth behind WR Garrett Wilson.
The Minnesota Vikings reportedly have no plans of trading Justin Jefferson. (Source: Dianna Russini on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: With the departure of Kirk Cousins, rumors have heated up of Jefferson potentially being moved but it appears that won't be the case. Sam Darnold is currently the starter for the Vikings, but we still have a lot of offseason left including the NFL Draft. This remains a situation to monitor between Jefferson and the Vikings.
Free agent RB AJ Dillon is currently drawing interest from the Giants, Colts, and Cowboys. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter )
Fantasy Impact: The Cowboys would make the most sense for Dillon, as they are the only team of the three without a newly signed RB or an established starter. Dillon tallied 613 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 178 carries in 15 games last season with Green Bay.
Veteran DT D.J. Reader, who was on the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023, plans to visit with the Detroit Lions as a free agent. (Source: Jordan Schultz on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Free agency officially begins on Wednesday, and Reader — who is coming off a season-ending torn quad — plans to visit with the NFC runner-ups, a team that could use his services in the middle of the field. Reader ranked top-15 among all DTs in defensive grade, pass rush grade and run defense grade in 2023, according to PFF. A potential departure from Cincy would be a big hit for the Bengals' front seven.
The Denver Broncos are not currently shopping veteran WR Courtland Sutton amid their current roster reshaping. (Source: Zack Rosenblatt on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: With the Broncos moving off of QB Russell Wilson and WR Jerry Jeudy, it seems like they are kicking the can on the 2024 season and biting the cap-space bullet, aiming for 2025. Sutton has two years left on his deal and doesn't seem to fit the team's timeline at the age of 28, but he's also their only experienced receiver at the moment. He has averaged nearly 800 yards over his last three seasons.
The Tennessee Titans are targeting Justin Simmons. (Source: Dianna Russini on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: According to Russini, the Titans were targeting C.J. Gardner-Johnson before the Eagles picked him up. Simmons was released by the Broncos last week.
The Denver Broncos are attending Oregon's Pro Day, where Bo Nix is expected to perform. (Source: Mike Klis on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: While this does not exclusively mean they are scouting Nix, it seems like a likely pairing with the Broncos expected to pursue a QB in this year's NFL Draft. Oregon has plenty of other talent as well, but with a need at QB, Nix could be a solid fit in the early rounds.
The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to cut QB Jimmy Garoppolo on Wednesday at the start of the new league year. (Source: Dianna Russini on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, a few teams are expected to be interested in the veteran QB. Garoppolo's release has been anticipated for months, and with the anticipated signing of Gardner Minshew II, he becomes even more expendable. Keep in mind that Garoppolo will also be suspended for the first two games of the 2024 season.
There is reportedly mutual interest between Danielle Hunter and the Texans. (Source: Aaron Wilson on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Hunter has spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Vikings. He logged a career-high 16.5 sacks last year and recorded double-digit sacks in five different seasons.
Former Washington and San Francisco pass rusher Chase Young is expected to meet with the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans this week. (Source: Tom Pelissero on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Young, a former Defensive Rookie of the Year, is still just 24 years old and drawing interest from a "handful of teams," according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Many are still buying into his early career flashes and his draft hype despite an injury-riddled start to his career that saw his production dip. However, Young had his second-best PFF pass-rushing grade in 2023 (74.5) and could provide for an edge-needy team.
Free agent WR Calvin Ridley prefers to return to Jacksonville despite a strong push by New England. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter )
Fantasy Impact: Ridley would provide the Patriots with a true No. 1 wide receiver, but the free agent is looking towards a potential reunion with the Jaguars. Even with the signing of Gabe Davis in free agency, Ridley should see a consistent target share if he returns to Jacksonville.
