Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round defensive tackle Walker Nolen III has impressed coaches and teammates right away during OTAs and minicamp and looks the part while fitting into a veteran defensive line room from not only a physical perspective, but also while standing out on the field at practice, according to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. "He has unbelievable lateral quickness. Very few players can go kind of backdoor and to come down the line and make a [tackle for loss]," veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell said. "He's one of those guys that has that unique ability where he has quickness. His quickness is different level, and he has good instincts." The 21-year-old 6-foot-4, 296-pounder had 14 tackles for loss and a career-high 6.5 sacks in 2024 at Ole Miss. Nolen won't be on the IDP fantasy radar in 2025, but he could be a key pass-rusher on the interior in Arizona before long.

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ESPN's Marc Raimondi writes that people have done nothing but rave about Atlanta Falcons rookie first-round linebacker Jalon Walker, from his physical abilities to his football acumen. The Georgia Bulldog alumni has made a seemingly seamless transition so far at the NFL level at the Falcons' team facility, which is around 43 miles northeast of where he played his college ball. "The human, the character, the person, the player, the all-in mentality," head coach Raheem Morris gushed. "He has those captain-like traits, and when you first meet him, you get that feel, you get that vibe from him, and he'll be one of those guys." The 21-year-old was the 15th overall pick in this year's NFL draft and could be used as both an off-ball linebacker and as a pass-rusher off the edge in Atlanta. Eventually, he should be a three-down linebacker, but in 2025, his playing time could be spotty as the Falcons figure out the best way to use him.

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ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques writes that Miami Dolphins rookie first-round defensive tackle Kenneth Grant has impressed during offseason workouts with his work ethic and mentality away from the football field. Head coach Mike McDaniel said that Grant "works endlessly" at the stuff he's asked to do. "You're hitting a home run with the team when a first-round draft pick comes in with that mindset, so we can work with that and veterans know you can count on that," McDaniel said. "There's been ebbs and flows like for every rookie, but what I've seen from him, I've seen production where he wins based on technique and fundamentals early in the snap, and I've seen late-down wins where he's straining and utilizing grit and finish to make plays." The 21-year-old is a hulking figure at 6-foot-3, 331 pounds and should quickly settle in as a full-time starter on the interior to help replace Christian Wilkins.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced on Thursday that they signed head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Jason Licht to multi-year contract extensions. Bowles' extension is for three seasons, according to sources, and will push his deal through the 2028 season. He is entering his fourth year as the head coach in 2025 with a 27-24 record and having won three straight NFC South titles from 2022 to 2024. Licht is entering his 12th season with the franchise and is currently the league's fifth-longest-tenured traditional GM. Under Licht, the Bucs won Super Bowl LV and have drafted key players such as Mike Evans, Tristan Wirfs, Vita Vea, Antoine Winfield Jr., Chris Godwin, Bucky Irving, Cade Otton, and more. Tampa leads the NFL in total snaps and starts by homegrown players that were selected in the first five rounds since 2014.

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Veteran cornerback Shaquill Griffin is signing with the Seattle Seahawks, reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Griffin began his career with Seattle after the organization selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of the University of Central Florida. He spent four seasons in Seattle, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2019. He joined the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2021 offseason before shorter stints with the Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, and the Minnesota Vikings. Overall, Griffin has tallied 407 tackles (323 solo), 70 pass deflections, nine interceptions, 11 run stuffs, one sack, and one forced fumble in 106 career games. In Seattle, he'll join a talented CB room featuring Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen. He'll also practice against quarterback Sam Darnold for the second straight season.

Seattle Seahawks WR Cooper Kupp 'looked the part' of 'a legitimate complementary piece' to WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba during minicamp and OTAs, in the opinion of Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic, who writes that Kupp 'still has enough wiggle, understanding of leverage and quickness' to make things difficult for defenses both in underneath routes and the red zone.

Fantasy Spin: Before we get too carried away, let's point out that Dugar writes that Kupp is obviously not the same guy he was in 2021 when he led the league in catches, yards, and TDs. That version of Kupp is gone, but the one Seattle signed may have more juice left than his 67-710-6 effort last year suggests. The veteran is an elite route runner, and if the Seahawks feed him the ball on short routes he could rack up the receptions in 2025. Still, at 32 and having missed 18 games combined over the past three seasons, Kupp is more of a risk-reward option as your fourth or fifth receiver.

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Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers plans to spend time with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to find a 'middle ground' between Rodgers' 'pass-happy' approach and Smith's 'run-heavy' play-calling, according to The Athletic's Mike DeFabo. Rodgers finished second in the NFL in pass attempts last season while Smith called the fourth-most running plays.

Fantasy Spin: Rodgers' move to Pittsburgh is one of the NFL's more compelling storylines heading into 2025. As has been mentioned in numerous spaces, the veteran should be the best quarterback the team has had since the days of Ben Roethlisberger, though Smith and Rodgers striking a balance between their divergent approaches will be an interesting subplot. The veteran projects as a low-end QB2 in the same area as other immobile signal callers like Matthew Stafford and Tua Tagovailoa.

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New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields is impressing the coaching staff this offseason with his work ethic as he heads into his first season with the team. "He's going out there and he's busting his a-; trying to be the best quarterback he can be for this team. Everybody sees that and I like that," head coach Aaron Glenn said. The biggest knocks on the former first-rounder in 2021 by the Chicago Bears were accuracy issues and his processing at the line of scrimmage. "The biggest takeaway I would say is that this guy is just a workaholic," offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand said. If Fields can improve his accuracy and decision-making while throwing to college teammate Garrett Wilson, he could become the long-term answer in New York and give fantasy managers clear QB1 upside given his elite rushing abilities. The 26-year-old has a high floor as a QB2 because of his rushing prowess.

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San Francisco 49ers rookie first-round defensive end Mykel Williams has earned positive early reviews for his willingness to learn from veteran pass-rusher Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "He's got a lot of talent, a lot of eagerness to learn, more so than I've seen probably from any young guy," Bosa said. "He just wants to learn as much as he can, and I'm excited to give all the knowledge I can to him." Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek has been pleased with Williams' approach, and the 20-year-old 11th overall pick should have a substantial role in Year 1 opposite Bosa. With that said, the 6-foot-5, 260-pounder could be more of a developmental project for the Niners in his first year with the team. The Georgia product is unlikely to be a must-roster player in IDP fantasy leagues in 2025.

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Las Vegas Raiders rookie first-round running back Ashton Jeanty has made a strong impression within the organization, according to ESPN's Ryan McFadden. Head coach Pete Carroll said Jeanty was "every bit" of what the team hoped for during offseason workouts as he showcased his pass-catching abilities and understanding of the offense. The Boise State product received most of the first-team reps during OTAs and minicamp, an indication that he's already established himself as the team's RB1. "He's such a strong and dynamic back," left tackle Kolton Miller said. "Even if he gets hit, he's still balanced, and that's super unique." There's been talk that the Raiders could use a committee backfield in 2025, but they didn't draft Jeanty sixth overall for that. He's going to cost a pretty penny in fantasy drafts and is already considered a top-five fantasy back going into his rookie campaign.

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ESPN's Jordan Raanan writes that New York Giants rookie first-round defensive end Abdul Carter has looked explosive during offseason workouts, and it was evident from the moment he first set foot on the field. "He looks quick," veteran middle linebacker Bobby Okereke said of Carter. The 21-year-old third overall pick in this year's NFL draft was used as an edge rusher, defensive tackle and inside linebacker during spring practices and didn't look out of place physically or mentally. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen has already noted Carter's versatility, so the rookie's usage early in his first year in the league will be worth watching. Carter could be on the IDP fantasy radar sooner than later in 2025, and the combination of him, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns could make the Giants defense one of the best pass-rushing units in the NFL.

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Arizona Cardinals WR Zay Jones likely will serve as the No. 3 receiver for the Cardinals this upcoming season, in the opinion of CardsWire's Jess Root.

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During a recent appearance on the "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast, San Francisco 49ers George Kittle said he feels great physically and mentally, and he is not putting a timeline on his retirement. The former fifth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Iowa said he will play "Literally until I don't have fun anymore." The Pro Bowl and All-Pro fixture recently signed a four-year extension to remain with the Niners long term following a 78-catch, 1,106-yard, and eight-touchdown season in 2024. "The one benefit of not making the playoffs is you get an entire month off," Kittle said. "I haven't had January off since 2020." This sounds like a great development for Kittle fantasy managers and his upside in 2025, especially after the departure of Deebo Samuel Sr., who was traded to the Washington Commanders. Kittle is currently being priced as the TE3 in half-PPR ADP, and it would be a surprise if he's not in contention for the overall TE1 once again in his ninth NFL campaign.

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Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey was selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, which was a surprise to many. Most draft analysts projected Harvey to be a third or fourth-round pick, so Sean Payton's conviction to select him early immediately increased his fantasy football value. However, the recent signing of veteran ball carrier J.K. Dobbins brought a new factor to Harvey's perceived value. Broncos reporter Nick Kosmider said that should not be the case. [Dobbins] signing had nothing to do with a souring outlook on Harvey." Kosmider wrote. "If anything, Harvey has exceeded expectations during his early days in Denver. He's in tremendous shape and has shown a natural feel as a receiver. Truer tests of his progress and his immediate readiness to contribute will come in training camp and the preseason, but the Broncos have been pleased with his progress to this point and plan to have him be a significant part of the offense." Kosmider said the Broncos targeted Dobbins well before April's draft, and Payton prefers a 1-2 punch approach. While Dobbins' presence somewhat lowers Harvey's ceiling, he should retain his RB2 upside in 2025. Dobbins is entering his age-26 season and has dealt with a multitude of significant injuries. If he gets banged up again, Harvey could be an RB1 with league-winning upside.

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The Los Angeles Rams released veteran wide receiver Quintez Cephus on Wednesday, according to NFL.com. The former fifth-round pick by the Detroit Lions out of Wisconsin in 2020 has not appeared in an NFL game since 2022 but has spent time with the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, and Los Angeles Rams since being released by Detroit. Overall, the 27-year-old has 37 receptions for 568 yards and four touchdowns to his name (all with Lions). He was forced to sit out the entire 2023 campaign after violating the league's policy against gambling. Based on his career trajectory and recent developments, it would be a surprise if he's on the fantasy football radar moving forward.

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Free-agent CB Shaquill Griffin (Vikings) agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks Wednesday, June 25, worth as much as $4 million, according to a source.

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San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle said he believes he will continue his career until it feels no longer fun to play. 'I don't know, I think if I get to 35 and it hurts to put pants on in the morning, I think I'll be like, 'Ah, this isn't that much fun anymore,' and I'll have a conversation with myself. But I'm feeling great right now,' Kittle said.

Fantasy Spin: Kittle seems in no hurry to finish playing and will continue to be a big part of the 49ers passing game as long as he is in uniform. He should be a weekly starting option in all fantasy leagues.

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Jacksonville Jaguars players and coaches have been impressed by rookie first-round wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter's endless motor, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence saying he can run all day. Hunter's ball skills and football IQ have also stood out during offseason workouts, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco. The second overall pick in this year's NFL draft catches the ball easily and has shown good body control when he's had to go up for an errant pass. Jacksonville has mostly had the former Colorado star focus on offense, but his defensive coaches like his retention level despite spending more time on the offensive side of the ball so far. Hunter is an elite athlete and should be the Jags' No. 2 receiver sooner than later, but fantasy managers should be careful not to overspend for a player that will be playing both sides of the ball.

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ESPN's Turron Davenport writes that Tennessee Titans rookie first-round quarterback Cam Ward is already emerging as a leader heading into his first season in the NFL. Ward organized a group of rookie receivers to come into the building at 5 am for film study and hasn't been hesitant to tell a veteran wideout how he wants a route run. Additionally, the first overall pick has bounced back quickly from his mistakes during offseason workouts. "It certainly didn't shy him away from throws," head coach Brian Callahan said. "You want to see a guy just kind of get ready and throw it again." The 23-year-old is certainly showing maturity early on, but whether it translates to immediate production on the field when games count will be another story. With limited options beyond receiver Calvin Ridley to throw to, Ward is expected to have an up-and-down rookie season, especially since he's not much of a runner.

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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush struggled during offseason workouts and put the ball in harm's way far too often as he learns a new offense, according to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec. Rush was thrust into a starter's role during OTAs with Lamar Jackson missing all but one of the team's nine practice sessions, which shortened his learning curve. The former Dallas Cowboy signal-caller will be Baltimore's No. 2 QB with second-year quarterback Devin Leary competing for a spot on the practice squad. If Jackson misses time due to injury during the 2025 regular season, the Ravens will surely be hoping that Rush has cleaned up some of the mistakes that he's showing early on as he learns the offense. The 31-year-old started nine games for Dallas in 2024 with Dak Prescott injured and threw for 12 TDs and four interceptions. He has the experience but lacks the mobility that Jackson has in spades.

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