Steelers keeping QB options open, with or without Aaron Rodgers
Sun Mar 30 10:05pm ET
Field Level Media
The Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback position is a work in progress, and coach Mike Tomlin said that signing Aaron Rodgers, the most prominent free agent in a thin market, is only one possible option.
The Steelers met with the 41-year-old Rodgers, a four-time NFL Most Valuable Player, on March 21 for a reported six hours. Tomlin met with media for the first time since then on Sunday at the NFL's annual meeting in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Tomlin called it "a really good day" spent with a player he has known for some time. As far as a timetable, however, the coach said there's no deadline for Rodgers to work out a deal with the Steelers from the team's perspective.
"I really wanted to spend more of our time just getting to know him better, and things that he values as a player and a man, and what he might be looking for with his next stop," Tomlin said. "I don't know that we've approached it from a deadline perspective. Certainly, as I mentioned, you'd like to have settled circumstances, but deadlines can often bring that to a head."
Tomlin called free agency a process, which has led Pittsburgh to bring back former Steelers QB Mason Rudolph, who played last season with Tennessee, and another veteran, former Miami Dolphin Skylar Thompson.
The Steelers' 2024 quarterback room has emptied, as Russell Wilson and Justin Fields were on one-year deals as they split starts, and Kyle Allen was a reserve. Wilson signed with the New York Giants and Fields went to Rodgers' former team, the New York Jets. Allen signed as a free agent with the Detroit Lions. The high turnover at the QB position has gone on for two seasons.
"Oftentimes, I say ‘Two is a pattern.' It's a cliche that I use in coaching, but I don't know that I'm alarmed by that as it pertains to this discussion," Tomlin said. "We're just simply trying to put together the very best team that we can put together for 2025. Last year, we had a group in that room that were on one-year deals, and so the possibility of what we're doing right now was a real thing. But that's just one isolated scenario. If we're having similar conversations next year at this time, it's probably more of a discussion for us."
Tomlin is not glossing over the addition of Rudolph, 29, as a potential starter, as he was signed to a two-year contract.
"We're optimistic about the room that we're constructing. Obviously, we're excited about having Mason Rudolph back," Tomlin said. "But certainly we're going to continue to explore all our options in terms of rounding that room out."
That includes adding another free agent or selecting a QB in the draft. Rodgers, who was released by the Jets on March 12 and has not said whether he wants to continue playing, has the decided edge in experience.
He passed for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2024, returning from a season-ending Achilles injury suffered in his first game with the Jets in September 2023.
The 10-time Pro Bowl selection ranks fifth in league history in touchdown passes (503) and seventh in passing yards (62,952).
"We're still evaluating the acquisition of a guy at that position, whether it's free agency and/or the draft, and so we're doing our due diligence, communicating with some free agents, also preparing for the draft," Tomlin said. "(GM) Omar (Khan) and I just got off on a nice tour here last week where we were at Notre Dame, Ohio State and Texas, for example, our last three trips. I think all three of those institutions have quarterbacks that are draft-eligible, and so it's been a good process for us."
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The Paur Report
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Former Arizona Cardinals linebacker Victor Dimukeje has signed a one-year $1.33 million deal with the New York Giants. The 25-year-old spent the last four years with Arizona after the team selected him in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Dimukeje has recorded 67 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles, and one pass defensed across his first four seasons. While he has chalked up just eight starts in his career, the Duke alum has played at least 65% of Arizona's special teams snaps since 2022. He'll provide the Giants with a depth piece and special teams contributor in 2025. Dimukeje joins teammates Chris Board and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles as new acquisitions in the Giants' linebacker room.
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Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer still believes the team will reach a long-term deal with pass rusher Micah Parsons. "Micah has said all along that he plans on being there...There's a lot of factors that go into a deal," Schottenheimer said on Sunday at the Annual League Meeting. "Again, my conversations with Micah have been great, and I think he's in a good spot." Dallas has made a habit of prolonging the extensions of their stars, but Schottenheimer doesn't want the offseason to be a distraction. It would behoove the Cowboys to lock up Parsons sooner than later, as he's already proven to be an elite game-wrecker, racking up at least 12 sacks in each of his first four seasons. Whether a deal gets done remains to be seen, but hearing that Schottenheimer is optimistic is encouraging for Parsons' prospects as a Cowboy.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn believes quarterback Justin Fields is poised for a solid season in New York. "I just think he's ready to break out as a top-notch quarterback," said Glenn of the Ohio State product. "He has a quiet confidence about himself." At present, Fields will get a chance to prove himself as a starter yet again in 2025. Unless the Jets add competition at the position in the draft, the 26-year-old is set to be the franchise's signal-caller. Fields went 4-2 as a starter in Pittsburgh last season but was replaced by Russell Wilson despite respectable on-field performance. This year, he doesn't project to have competition breathing down his neck, but Fields' evolution as a quarterback remains to be seen. This may be the season it all comes together for him, but his rushing upside should keep him in the conversation of a viable fantasy starter while he's manning the offense.
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Dallas Cowboys co-owner Stephen Jones notes that quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) is "doing great" after hamstring surgery. ESPN's Todd Archer reported the news. "He's very thrilled with where he is, and I know the trainers are too," said Jones. "I feel like he's doing a hell of a job." While this is good news, Jones also reports that the 31-year-old will have "some limitations" in the offseason training program. Prescott will be looking to bounce back in 2025. Aside from the nine games he missed with injury, the Louisiana native wasn't at the top of his game when he was healthy, producing an 11:8 TD:INT ratio and 247.25 yards per game across eight outings. It appears he's on the right track regarding his injury, but Prescott will have other factors working against his rebound, such as a new head coach in Brian Schottenheimer.
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Tennessee Titans President of Football Operations Chad Brinker noted that teams are still checking in on trades for the first overall pick in this year's draft. "People are checking in, going through their process. So, we'll see what happens," said Brinker. It seems unlikely that Tennessee will trade out of the No. 1 spot, but it may make sense for them to do so if they aren't trading back too far. The Titans have done their homework on former Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward and will be represented at the Pro Days of QB Shedeur Sanders and WR/DB hybrid Travis Hunter. They're even keeping tabs on Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter (shoulder), with Brisker stating he is "very much on our radar." Many around the league consider Ward to be a lock for the Titans at one. However, the team will continue to do its due diligence in preparation for next month's draft.
From RotoBaller
The San Francisco 49ers owe wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) a $22.85 million bonus if he's on their roster on April 1, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Once the 49ers pay that bonus, any potential trade talks this offseason for Aiyuk would be off and he'd be expected to spend the 2025 season with the Niners. Schefter reports that no trade is expected by then for Aiyuk, who is expected to miss around half of the season after tearing his ACL and MCL in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024. That will obviously be a huge hit to the 27-year-old's fantasy value for the 2025 season, especially after he was a big disappointment for his managers right before his season-ending knee injury. We will keep a close eye on Aiyuk's rehab this offseason, but as of right now, he won't be ready for training camp and will be a long shot to be ready for Week 1 this fall.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The 49ers are unlikely to trade Brandon Aiyuk this off-season. Dynasty Analysis: This always seemed the most likely outcome with Aiyuk recovering from a torn ACL and the 49ers already having moved on from Deebo Samuel. It will likely become reality after Tuesday when Aiyuk is due nearly $23 million in the form of a roster bonus. Should that day come and go, seeing him in anything other than a San Francisco uniform would be a shock. His dynasty value is still sinking as a result of his injury, but it could also represent a decent buying opportunity for dynasty managers who still believe in him.
The Miami Dolphins have signed linebacker Willie Gay Jr. to a one-year $1.33 million deal. The former New Orleans Saint is entering his sixth season after the Kansas City Chiefs took him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Gay Jr.'s tackle figure was down in 2024, as he only played on 23.51% of the team's snaps. However, he racked up 88 takedowns, 2.5 sacks, and an interception in 13 starts during the 2022 campaign. The Mississippi State product also started 15 games in 2023 and has spent time on special teams. Gay Jr. is slotted in behind fellow linebacker Jordyn Brooks on the team's unofficial depth chart and figures to get a modest snap share this season.
From RotoBaller
The Buffalo Bills and cornerback Christian Benford reached an agreement on a four-year, $76 million contract extension on Saturday, according to Benford's management. Benford will stick around in Buffalo for another four years after Buffalo made him a sixth-round selection (185th overall) in the 2022 NFL draft out of Villanova. The 24-year-old defensive back has continued to improve in each of his first three seasons in the NFL, culminating in a strong performance in 2024 in which he had a career-high 64 tackles (50 solo), his first career sack, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 15 regular-season starts. The Bills are hoping that Benford will continue to improve as a key member of their secondary for years to come. In his three NFL seasons, he has 142 tackles (110 solo), one sack, seven tackles for loss, five interceptions and 25 pass breakups in 39 games (34 starts).
From RotoBaller
The New York Jets re-signed exclusive-rights free-agent wide receiver Irvin Charles (knee) to an undisclosed deal on Friday. Charles will return to the Jets in 2025, although it's highly unlikely he'll be ready for training camp this summer or the start of the regular season after tearing his ACL in Week 14 of last year. The 27-year-old former undrafted free agent appeared in 13 games (no starts) in 2024 and was unable to catch his only target on offense. In his two NFL seasons, he has yet to catch a pass on just two targets over 25 games (no starts), mainly contributing on special teams. Charles logged 212 special-teams snaps last year and will likely resume a similar role at some point next year when he's cleared from his knee injury. He's nowhere near the fantasy radar.
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed linebacker Jeremiah Moon to a one-year contract. The financial details have not been disclosed. Moon appeared in 13 games in 2024 for the team, finishing with two tackles on defense and another seven more on special teams. The former undrafted free agent spent 2022 and 2023 with the Baltimore Ravens, appearing in eight games (one start). The Florida product joins new teammate Malik Harrison as the Steelers' new linebackers. Pittsburgh has done well to sign help for their defensive back end. Still, Moon doesn't project to play much on defense. It's unlikely he holds much of a role outside of special teams, and he probably won't make an impact on fantasy.
From RotoBaller
The Atlanta Falcons have come to terms with free agent tight end Teagan Quitoriano on an undisclosed contract. Quitoriano appeared in seven games for the Houston Texans last season but did not record any catches. The Texans initially selected the 25-year-old in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. That season, he accrued seven receptions, 113 yards, and two touchdowns in nine games. The Oregon State alum has spent time on IR in each of the last three seasons. He'll now join a Falcons tight end room that features Kyle Pitts, Charlie Woerner, and Feleipe Franks. Quitoriano will compete for snaps but will likely serve as a depth piece for the team.
From RotoBaller
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who is regarded as one of the top pass-catchers in this year's NFL draft class, has a top-30 visit scheduled with the Carolina Panthers, a league source told The Athletic's Joe Person. McMillan, 21, is expected to be the first receiver off the board in April's draft, as he has great size (6-foot-4, 219 pounds) and an uncanny ability to high-point the football down the field. Despite the fact that he doesn't have elite speed, plenty of teams, including the Panthers are intrigued about his upside at the next level. Carolina holds the eighth overall pick in the first round of this year's draft, which could be right in the wheelhouse of where teams will begin considering McMillan. If he were to land with the Panthers, McMillan would almost certainly be starting in three-wide sets immediately alongside Xavier Legette and veteran Adam Thielen.
From RotoBaller
The Baltimore Ravens announced on Friday that they reached a three-year contract extension with head coach John Harbaugh. The new deal will keep the 62-year-old in Baltimore through the 2028 season. He was entering the final year of his previous contract that he had signed back in March of 2022, and it will continue a trend of the Ravens not allowing Harbaugh to start a regular season on the final year of his contract since he was initially hired in 2008. He is already the franchise's all-time winningest head coach with a 185-115 record over 17 seasons. His 12 playoff appearances are second-most in the NFL behind KC's Andy Reid (14), and he also led the team to a Super Bowl victory in 2012. Harbaugh is the second-longest tenured coach behind only the Steelers' Mike Tomlin. Although Harbaugh has had plenty of success in Baltimore, the Ravens have only gone past the Divisional Round once since winning the Super Bowl 12 years ago.
From RotoBaller
FOX Sports NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reports that the Las Vegas Raiders are signing former Houston Texans linebacker Devin White to a one-year deal. The details of the contract have not been disclosed. The former fifth-overall pick notched 18 tackles in seven games last season (one start). While White's playing time was limited in 2024, he'd previously strung together three straight seasons of 124 or more tackles during his time with the Buccaneers. That included a 140-tackle, nine-sack campaign in 2020. The 27-year-old may not be listed as a starter on the team's depth chart, but he'll be able to compete in camp for playing time. He'll look to bolster a defense that allowed the eighth-most points per game in the league a season ago (25.5).
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard reports that he targeted former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones because of his skill set, which is similar to that of teammate Anthony Richardson. Ballard also notes that the competition between the two will bring out the best in them, and he's excited to work with Jones. "Excited to get Daniel in the building," he said. "I think he's a really good fit for what we want to do, and who he is as a person, and who he can be as a player." Jones and Richardson will battle it out for the starting job this summer. The 27-year-old is far from a lock to win the gig but would present as an upside fantasy option due to his ability as a rusher. Despite Jones holding the lower ceiling of the two options, he has the higher floor as a passer.
From RotoBaller
On Friday, New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) noted that he's excited to play with quarterback Drake Maye. "I'm excited. I really look forward to it," Diggs said. The Maryland product was productive in eight games with the Houston Texans in 2024 before an ACL tear derailed his season. Now, he's set to boost the Patriots' passing game and is reportedly on track to be ready for Week 1. New England's leading receiver a season ago was tight end Hunter Henry (66-674-2), so the 31-year-old enters a favorable situation to garner a significant target share right away if he's healthy. The Patriots have somewhat bolstered their offensive line in free agency but still have some work to do in that aspect. If their front is addressed, affording Maye more time to operate, Diggs could again provide value as a PPR asset, barring a setback in his recovery.
From RotoBaller
In addition to visiting with his former team, the Las Vegas Raiders, free-agent wide receiver Hunter Renfrow took a visit with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Renfrow has 269 catches for 2,884 yards and 17 touchdowns in his five NFL seasons with the Raiders but did not play at all in 2024 after Vegas released him last March. The 29-year-old pass-catcher was a first-time Pro Bowler back in 2021, when he had 103 receptions for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games (nine starts). If Renfrow were to land in Carolina, he'd provide the Panthers with an experienced veteran that would serve in a depth role behind the likes of Xavier Legette, Adam Thielen, Jalen Coker and David Moore.
From RotoBaller
The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Thursday that they re-signed cornerback Nazeeh Johnson to an undisclosed deal. Johnson will stick around with the Chiefs for secondary depth after originally being taken in the seventh round (259th overall) by KC in 2022 out of Marshall. The 26-year-old defensive back did not play at all in 2023 and has 64 tackles (38 solo), one sack and three pass breakups in 27 games (six starts) in his two NFL seasons, with 56 of those tackles coming in 16 regular-season games (six starts) last year. Johnson is far off the fantasy radar in IDP leagues, but he should retain his rotational role in the Chiefs' secondary in 2025 while also contributing on special teams.
From RotoBaller
