The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac said on the Rich Eisen Show that Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro pass-rusher T.J. Watt is in a stalemate with the team regarding a contract extension because he "wants to be the highest-paid non-quarterback" in the league. Watt will turn 31 years old in October, so the Steelers don't want to do an extension for anything less than five years in order to spread the money out in terms of guarantees and a signing bonus. The Steelers want to bring Watt, one of the most disruptive defenders in the league, but they know it's not a smart business decision after they noticed a decline in his performance last year when he dropped from a league-leading 19 sacks in 2023 to 11.5 last year in 17 regular-season starts. The Steelers usually don't play hard ball with their stars, but this is something that could stretch well into training camp and the preseason.

From RotoBaller

The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia lists Buffalo Bills wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. on the bubble watch heading into training camp. Shenault is likely best suited for the X receiver role behind Keon Coleman, and his run-after-the-catch skills and speed give him a real shot to with the kickoff-return job. The Bills made a low-cost investment in Shenault after liking him in the pre-draft process before his draft year. Despite all those things that Buscaglia mentions, he also writes that the odds are that Shenault doesn't make the team beyond training camp because they'll have answers elsewhere to the value he'd provide. If the 26-year-old doesn't make the 53-man roster, he'll be a prime candidate to be stashed on the practice squad for depth. Shenault caught just five passes for 36 yards as mostly a kickoff returner in 2024 with the Seahawks and Chargers.

From RotoBaller

The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia has Buffalo Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer listed as a sleeper after signing a three-year deal with the team in the offseason. Buscaglia writes that Palmer's potential role and impact in this year's passing offense "are being slept on a bit." He's exactly what the Bills offense lacked last year -- a precise route-runner that specializes in separation who has enough speed to push down the field for deeper targets. The 25-year-old should be a nice fit for the Z receiver role after Buffalo tried to force Amari Cooper and Mack Hollins into the role in 2024. Buscaglia writes that Palmer could win the Hollins award for unexpected player who will play a lot more than most people think. Ultimately, Palmer probably won't see enough volume in this offense to warrant anything more than WR4/5 value in fantasy unless Khalil Shakir or Keon Coleman miss time with injury.

From RotoBaller

Carolina Panthers running back Raheem Blackshear will "almost exclusively be a special teams player" in 2025 if the team elects to keep a fourth RB around beyond training camp, writes The Charlotte Observer's Alex Zietlow. The Panthers only kept three RBs a year ago. Even with rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) out for most of last season, Blackshear didn't have a single rushing attempt until Week 16. The 27-year-old will primarily be competing with David Moore, Jimmy Horn Jr. and Hunter Renfrow for a spot on the team's 53-man roster as a return option. The former undrafted free agent in 2022 has had 68 touches for 341 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on offense for the Panthers in the last three years while adding 66 kickoff returns for 1,734 yards and 23 punt returns for 200 yards. He's off the fantasy radar in the vast majority of leagues.

From RotoBaller

The Charlotte Observer's Alex Zietlow writes that Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle will split carries with rookie Trevor Etienne as the backups to lead back Chuba Hubbard in 2025. Dowdle is coming of a 1,000-yard season with the Dallas Cowboys in his first year as a lead back, but he'll be working behind Hubbard. As the RB2 last year in Carolina, Miles Sanders only had 55 carries, although he was mostly injured and ineffective. Zietlow adds that the Panthers will want to find out what they have in Etienne before Jonathon Brooks (knee) returns in 2026. If anything, the 27-year-old Dowdle will take away valuable pass-catching opportunities from Hubbard on third downs in his first year in Carolina, but it's going to be hard to justify him as an every-week fantasy starter as long as Hubbard stays healthy. Dowdle is ranked as RotoBaller's RB50 going into the 2025 season.

From RotoBaller

The Charlotte Observer's Alex Zietlow writes that Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard "will still get the overwhelming majority of the touches" this year. Hubbard was the team's bell-cow back in 2024 with 712 snaps. He carried the ball 250 times, which ranked 11th in the NFL and second among all RBs who played 15 games or fewer. Zietlow thinks that number will drop a bit this year as the Panthers look to keep Hubbard fresh, with Rico Dowdle and rookie Trevor Etienne splitting change-of-pace carries. The 26-year-old had his first 1,000-yard rushing season with a career-high 10 touchdowns in 15 starts, adding a carer-high 43 catches for 171 yards and a score through the air. There's a good chance 2024 ends up being Hubbard's career year, as Dowdle should be much more effective than Miles Sanders was behind Hubbard last year. Fantasy managers should target Hubbard as an RB2.

From RotoBaller

New York Jets running back Breece Hall has had a turbulent start to his NFL career. The first ball carrier selected in the 2022 NFL Draft (No. 36 overall) suffered a torn ACL in Week 7 of his rookie campaign after an excellent start. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry and 11.5 yards per reception on 99 total touches. He has flashed upside in his last two campaigns, but New York's offensive environment with Zach Wilson or Aaron Rodgers was not conducive to high-level production, and he's averaged fewer than 4.6 yards per carry since the start of his sophomore campaign. Heading into Year 4, Hall is determined to put his name back in the "high-end" running back discussion. "Just proving that I'm still the guy and still one of the best in the league," Hall said. "Just trying to go out there every weekend and prove that I deserve to be out there." While quarterback Justin Fields has plenty of question marks as a passer, his rushing skill set could open running lanes for Hall behind a potentially improved Jets offensive line. New York's coaching staff has hinted at a split backfield with second-year pro Braelon Allen, but Hall should continue to be viewed as the starter for Gang Green. That said, Fields likely won't target running backs often in the passing game based on his previous trends.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt has been in the thick of trade rumors this offseason, and the team's activity on the trade market on Monday has only fanned the flames of those rumors. However, NFL.com's Bobby Kownack reports that the Steelers have no intention of trading Watt and remain focused on agreeing to a deal with the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Watt is heading into the final season of his four-year, $112 million contract extension that he signed ahead of the 2021 campaign, and the Wisconsin product has tallied at least 11.5 sacks in each of the three full seasons he has played in since. Watt is one of the premier defensive players in the NFL, so it would be a surprise if the Steelers did not eventually come to an agreement with their 2017 first-round selection. In 121 career games, Watt has tallied 462 tackles (331 solo), 108 sacks, 33 forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries, seven interceptions, 50 pass deflections, and 75.5 run stuffs.

From RotoBaller

The Miami Dolphins are finalizing a trade with the New York Giants on Tuesday for former Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller, who is coming out of retirement, sources tell NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Waller retired last summer after catching 52 of his 74 targets for 552 yards and just one touchdown in 12 games (11 starts) with the G-Men in 2023. Miami was desperate for an addition at tight end after trading Jonnu Smith and cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Dolphins and Giants are also swapping late-round draft picks in the Waller trade. Waller will turn 33 in September and hasn't played more than 12 games since his Pro Bowl season in 2020, but he should automatically become Miami's top pass-catching tight end. The volume alone should make him at least a TE2 target with upside in fantasy, but don't expect him to replicate Smith's numbers from last year in Miami.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly said on 93.7 The Fan that the team has had talks with free-agent wide receiver Tyler Boyd. It comes a day after Boyd said he's "absolutely" be interested in playing for the Steelers. It's unclear if a formal offer was made to Boyd, but the money that he's been offered around the league this offseason hasn't been in the neighborhood of what he's looking for. The Steelers acquired tight end Jonnu Smith in a trade on Monday with the Miami Dolphins, but they could still use additional receiver depth behind DK Metcalf. As things currently stand, Calvin Austin III is set for WR2 duties with Roman Wilson, Robert Woods, Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek also on the roster. After eight seasons with the Bengals, Boyd caught 39 passes for 390 yards and no touchdowns in 16 games (eight starts) for Tennessee in 2024.

From RotoBaller

The Pittsburgh Steelers see new cornerback Jalen Ramsey as an outside corner, a slot corner and potentially as a safety, according to Mark Kaboly. The Steelers acquired Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith, and a seventh-round pick in 2027 from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a fifth-rounder in 2027 on Monday. The presence of cornerbacks Joey Porter and Darius Slay will allow the Steelers to get creative with the 30-year-old Ramsey, who could be more of an IPD fantasy asset if he plays more slot corner and safety in 2025. The former first-rounder and seven-time All-Pro continued to play at a high level last year with the Dolphins, racking up 60 tackles (39 solo), one sack, six tackles for loss, two interceptions and 11 pass breakups in 17 starts. Despite losing Fitzpatrick, the Steelers' secondary should remain strong this year.

From RotoBaller

The Pittsburgh Steelers view new tight end Jonnu Smith as a tight end, a slot wide receiver and a fullback and will use him in a hybrid role in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's offense. Despite already having tight end Pat Freiermuth, the Steelers acquired Smith, cornerback Jalen Ramsey and a 2027 seventh-round pick from the Miami Dolphins on Monday in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-rounder. Smith will reunite with Arthur Smith after posting a 50-582-3 line in 2023 with the Atlanta Falcons. At the time, the 582 receiving yards were a career-high for Smith until he went off for 88 catches, 884 yards and eight TDs with Miami last season. The 29-year-old will now be working with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers in what's expected to be a run-first offense. The move to Pittsburgh is definitely bad news for Smith's fantasy upside as a TE1 in 2025.

From RotoBaller

The Las Vegas Review-Journal's Vincent Bonsignore reports that the Las Vegas Raiders are not interested in trading tight end Michael Mayer. It comes after reports that the Miami Dolphins were interested in acquiring Mayer from the Raiders after trading tight end Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday. Mayer is scheduled to make $1.6 million in 2025 and $2 million in 2026 and took a back seat in 2024 to rookie Brock Bowers, catching just 21 of 32 targets for 156 yards and no touchdowns in 11 games (eight starts) in his second year in the NFL. The 23-year-old Notre Dame product caught 27 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. There have been reports suggesting he'll have a bigger role in 2025 in two-tight end sets in new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly's scheme, but as long as Bowers is healthy, he'll be the second fiddle at the position if he stays in Vegas.

From RotoBaller

ESPN's Adam Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday that there is no update on contract talks between the Washington Commanders and wide receiver Terry McLaurin, "and that's the problem." "There is quite a gap between what both sides want right now and they have not made any progress," Schefter said. Schefter goes on to say that he'd be surprised if the Commanders look to move on from McLaurin via a trade, regardless of how disgruntled the wideout might be. McLaurin is entering the final season of a three-year extension he signed in 2022 and is looking for a hefty extension after posting his fifth straight 1,000-yard season with a career-high 13 touchdowns in 2024. He's reportedly seeking a deal that would pay him around $30 million a year, but the Commanders seem hesitant to give that to a receiver that will turn 30 this September. In fantasy, McLaurin is a solid WR2 target going into 2025.

From RotoBaller

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that despite the Pittsburgh Steelers' unwillingness to trade superstar pass rusher T.J. Watt, the 30-year-old remains unhappy with his contract situation. Furthermore, Schefter notes that some sources believe "outside team interest is likely to increase given today's trade." The Steelers and Dolphins stole headlines on the first day of NBA free agency when the two teams agreed to a blockbuster deal involving defensive backs Jalen Ramsey and Minkah Fitzpatrick. However, Pittsburgh has made it clear they want Watt to retire in the Steel City. It'd likely take a massive offering even to pique the organization's interest, and while it's possible, there has been no indication that the Steelers will forfeit his rights. Watt is in the final season of a four-year, $112 million extension he signed back in 2021.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent wide receiver Tyler Boyd said he thinks he still has "a few more years" left in the NFL and would "absolutely" be interested in playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers after spending the first eight years of his NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals. Boyd is a Pennsylvania native and University of Pittsburgh alumni. In 2024 with the Tennessee Titans, he caught 39 of 57 targets for only 390 yards and no touchdowns in 16 games (eight starts). The 30-year-old former second-rounder could be a nice fit for Pittsburgh, a team that has question marks beyond WR1 DK Metcalf after trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys in the offseason. Boyd's 390 receiving yards last year were his lowest total since his sophomore campaign in 2017, and it was the first time in nine seasons he was held out of the end zone. There's no guarantee he'd have a sizeable role if he were to join the Steelers.

From RotoBaller

After the Miami Dolphins traded tight end Jonnu Smith and cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, the team is now in conversations with multiple team about acquiring a tight end, sources tell NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. With Smith now in Pittsburgh, Pharaoh Brown, Julian Hill and Tanner Conner are Miami's top options at the tight end position, so it's not a surprise they are now looking for an upgrade. At the moment, the trade of Smith is good news for receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who both had down seasons in 2024. However, that could change, depending on who the Dolphins bring in at tight end. The most plausible trade options could be the Ravens' Mark Andrews or the Raiders' Michael Mayer.

From RotoBaller

Tennessee Titans cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (quadriceps) said at his recent football camp that he's "ready to get back on the field" after missing the team's final 12 games in 2024 with a quadriceps injury. The 28-year-old defensive back didn't take part in Tennessee's minicamp in the middle of June but should be ready to go at some point in training camp this summer. Sneed signed a four-year, $76.4 million deal with the Titans before last season but played in only five games in his first year with the team due to his quad injury, recording 23 tackles (19 solo). He had established himself as one of the better corners in the league in his first four NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and had a 100-tackle campaign with 3.5 sacks in 2022. If Sneed can rebound and stay healthy all year in 2025, Tennessee's secondary could be in good hands.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is being traded to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Ramsey trade was announced just before it was known that Fitzpatrick was part of the deal. The 28-year-old was originally selected by the Dolphins in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Alabama, but he was dealt to Pittsburgh after just one season with the organization. Overall, the three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection has tallied 608 tackles (400 solo), 20 interceptions, 54 pass deflections, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and four defensive touchdowns in 106 career games.

From RotoBaller

The Miami Dolphins are trading Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a late-round pick swap, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The 29-year-old had the best season of his career in 2024, posting 88 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games. This move reunites him with Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who worked with the tight end in Tennessee and Atlanta for a total of five seasons. The Steelers were hurting for weapons behind the recently acquired DK Metcalf, so Smith should be viewed as the clear No. 2 option in the passing attack led by Aaron Rodgers. Pat Freiermuth, Roman Wilson, and Calvin Austin III are minor losers of this trade and will have a tougher time commanding targets in 2025. As for Miami, De'Von Achane, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle now have less target competition. Julian Hill figures to enter the TE1 role for now.

From RotoBaller