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FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

Broncos sign former Panthers S Sam Franklin Jr.

Fri Apr 11 2:30pm ET
Field Level Media

The Denver Broncos signed free agent safety Sam Franklin Jr. on Friday. Terms were not disclosed.

Franklin, 29, played his first five NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers after going undrafted in 2020.

He registered eight tackles in 10 games in 2024 after missing the first seven games with a broken foot.

Franklin has 105 career tackles, one sack and one interception (a 99-yard pick-six) in 74 games (nine starts).

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Andrei Iosivas Apr 11 4:30pm ET
Andrei Iosivas

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas has reportedly been bulking up over the offseason. The former sixth-round pick has reportedly added around 15 pounds of muscle. Iosivas is now at his ideal weight which is around 215-200 pounds. He says that he is feeling better, stronger, and moving faster than before. Iosivas quietly had a solid season with the Bengals this past season. He hauled in 36 receptions for 479 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 17 games (eight starts) in 2024. The Bengals obviously have Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins above him on the depth chart, but that doesn't mean Iosivas can't be an impact player. Hopefully the added weight will Iosivas feel more like himself as a receiver this upcoming season.

From RotoBaller

Drew Lock Apr 11 4:20pm ET
Drew Lock

The Seattle Seahawks have signed free-agent quarterback Drew Lock on Friday. The veteran quarterback is back with the organization after spending the 2023 season with Seattle. During that season, Lock threw for 543 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions in four games (two starts) with the Seahawks. He spent last season with the New York Giants, but he didn't have too much success there. He finished with a 1-4 record while throwing for 1,071 passing yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games (five starts) with the Giants. The former second-round pick has failed to establish himself as a starter in the NFL. However, Lock could be a quality backup behind Sam Darnold in Seattle this upcoming season.

From RotoBaller

Deshaun Watson Apr 11 4:13pm ET
Deshaun Watson

Dynasty | The Browns have signed quarterback Joe Flacco. Dynasty Analysis: The veteran quarterback found great success in his first stint with Cleveland, throwing for 1,616 yards, with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions in relief of Deshaun Watson back in 2023. His signing is an interesting one as the Browns currently have Kenny Pickett as their de facto starter and seem to be leaning away from the quarterback position in round one of the upcoming draft. Flacco could simply be veteran depth or have a legitimate shot at being the starter this season, This whole story will be worked out after the NFL Draft in a couple of weeks.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Jack Cochrane Apr 11 12:50pm ET
Jack Cochrane

The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Friday that they officially re-signed linebacker Jack Cochrane after he signed his right-of-first-refusal tender. Cochrane will make $3.263 million in 2025. The 26-year-old will return to Chiefs Kingdom for his fourth season after he originally went undrafted out of South Dakota. In his three seasons with the Chiefs, he has racked up 42 tackles (29 solo) and one pass breakup in 47 games (one start). In 15 regular-season games (zero starts) last year, Cochrane had only five tackles (three solo). His most productive season came in 2023, when he had a career-high 28 tackles (21 solo) and a pass breakup in 17 regular-season games (one start). Cochrane played 296 snaps on special teams last season and only nine on defense, so we should expect him to return to a similar role with the Chiefs in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Jones Apr 11 12:40pm ET
Daniel Jones

ESPN's Matt Miller writes that tight end is the obvious first-round target for the Indianapolis Colts going into the 2025 NFL draft. The Colts had the fewest receptions from its tight ends in the league last year, so both Penn State's Tyler Warren and Michigan's Colston Loveland makes sense for Indy for both need and value at No. 14 overall. ESPN's Stephen Holder believes the Colts will build from the inside out in this draft after losing starting offensive linemen Ryan Kelly and Will Fries in free agency and edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo, who led the team's defensive line in snap counts in 2024. The Colts may go with a tight end with their first-round pick, but if they do, expect them to address the depth on both their offensive and defensive lines after that, starting with the No. 45 overall pick in the second round. The Colts definitely need a reliable target in the middle of the field for one of Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones at QB.

From RotoBaller

Javon Hargrave Apr 11 12:30pm ET
Javon Hargrave

ESPN's Nick Wagoner thinks that defensive line is the San Francisco 49ers' biggest priority heading into this year's NFL draft, and they arguably need three new starters on the defensive line next to edge rusher Nick Bosa. They need significant upgrades after releasing starting defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins and edge rusher Leonard Floyd this offseason. The good news is that this draft is deep on the defensive line, and it's why many pundits have San Fran projected to take Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Stewart early on. "This should be an all-trenches draft if [Kyle] Shanahan can resist picking skill players," said a rival NFC scout. It will be a pivotal draft for the Niners (they have 11 picks) after a disappointing and injury-riddled 2024 campaign that ended without a playoff berth.

From RotoBaller

Aidan O'Connell Apr 11 12:10pm ET
Aidan O'Connell

The Las Vegas Raiders signed quarterback Geno Smith to a two-year, $75 million contract extension this offseason, but it's extremely team-friendly, and The Athletic's Vic Tafur thinks bringing in a young QB in this year's NFL draft to learn behind Smith makes sense. Tafur also thinks the Raiders might trade backup Aidan O'Connell on draft weekend. The Raiders have a clear out with Smith after 2026, as they guaranteed only $18.5 of his $26.5 million 2026 salary, and none of the $39.5 million he's due to make in 2027. Minority owner Tom Brady likes the idea of rookie QBs sitting and learning, and the Raiders will have some interesting options later in the draft in what is considered a down year for QBs. Tafur doesn't think it makes much sense to take Colorado's Shedeur Sanders at No. 6 overall, and a good number of QBs could be off the board by the team's second pick at No. 37 overall.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson Apr 11 11:10am ET
Lamar Jackson

The Washington Commanders have agreed to a one-year deal with free-agent quarterback Josh Johnson. The veteran signal-caller is back with the organization after playing four games with Washington during the 2018 season. Most recently, Johnson played with the Baltimore Ravens during the 2024 season as the backup to Lamar Jackson. Now, Johnson is set to serve as the third string behind Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota. The 38-year-old is mainly a veteran presence at this point in his career considering he hasn't started a game since 2021. Johnson has played with seven different organizations since being traded by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008. He won't offer much value on the field, but can be a helpful mentor on the sideline.

From RotoBaller

Mo Alie-Cox Apr 11 11:00am ET
Mo Alie-Cox

The Indianapolis Colts have re-signed tight end Mo Alie-Cox to a one-year deal on Friday. Alie-Cox is headed back to Indy for a eighth straight season. In 2024, Alie-Cox finished with 12 receptions for 147 yards and one touchdown in 17 games (13 starts) with the Colts. At this point, Alie-Cox is mainly depth as the Colts are likely to target a tight end during the upcoming NFL Draft. Regardless, it's hard to imagine Alie-Cox having fantasy value considering he hasn't posted a season with over 200 receiving yards since 2021. This appears to be a depth signing as Alie-Cox knows the system and the organization well.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Pitre Apr 11 10:30am ET
Jalen Pitre

Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre has agreed to a new deal with the organization on Friday. The two sides have agreed on a three-year, $39 million extension, including $29.1 million in guaranteed money. Pitre was set to enter his final year of his rookie deal, but the Texans decided to lock him up before he could enter free agency. Pitre recorded 147 tackles, eight passes defended, and five interceptions during his rookie year in 2022. Since then, Pitre has seen his stats take a dip, but he has still been an above average defender on the field. This isn't a blockbuster move, but a reasonable one to keep a valuable defender on the roster for a good price.

From RotoBaller

Joe Flacco Apr 11 10:20am ET
Joe Flacco

The Cleveland Browns have signed free-agent quarterback Joe Flacco on Friday. They've agreed on a one-year, $4 million contract, including incentives that could earn up to $13 million for the upcoming season. The 40-year-old threw for 1,761 passing yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions with the Indianapolis Colts last season. Before that, Flacco went 4-1 with the Browns while throwing for 1,616 passing yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions during the 2023 campaign. The Browns already have Kenny Pickett and the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. That being said, it's unclear where Flacco is going to fall on the depth chart once the season begins. For now, Flacco is looked upon as a veteran presence who might still have a little bit left in the tank on the football field.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Apr 10 10:50pm ET
Caleb Williams

Despite the Chicago Bears being aggressive in acquiring offensive linemen this offseason, ESPN's Courtney Cronin isn't ruling out the team addressing their offensive line at No. 10 overall in this year's NFL draft, especially since incumbent starting left tackle Braxton Jones (ankle) is expected to be limited at the start of training camp this summer after having ankle surgery. It's unlikely that Kiran Amegadjie will be without legitimate competition at the position while Jones recovers. General manager Ryan Poles talked about "short-term versus long-term thinking" at the league meetings, potentially signaling Chicago will use their first-round pick on a left tackle to start grooming him for the future. After drafting quarterback Caleb Williams first overall last year, protecting him for the long term will be of utmost importance.

From RotoBaller

Justin Fields Apr 10 10:40pm ET
Justin Fields

ESPN New York's Rich Cimini thinks the chances are good that the New York Jets go offense with the No. 7 overall pick in this year's NFL draft, taking either a plug-and-play right tackle like Missouri's Armand Membou or a much-needed aerial target for new quarterback Justin Fields like Penn State tight end Tyler Warren. The Jets have holes on their offensive line and at receiver, as their only current dependable pass-catcher is Garrett Wilson. Receiver, right tackle and cornerback should be New York's primary focus on Days 1 and 2 of the draft. ESPN's Matt Miller says that there has been some chatter about the Jets potentially drafting a running back -- maybe Boise State's Ashton Jeanty if the Raiders pass on him at No. 6 -- but they definitely have more pressing needs.

From RotoBaller

Rashaad Penny Apr 10 10:20pm ET
Rashaad Penny

ESPN's Jordan Reid writes that cornerback could be a position that the Las Vegas Raiders target early in this year's NFL draft, especially if they trade down from No. 6 overall. University of Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron is an option for Vegas if they trade back, according to multiple league sources. ESPN's Ryan McFadden also wouldn't be surprised if the Raiders go with an offensive lineman or cornerback with their first-round selection. The most obvious pairing, though, is for the Raiders to take Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, the Heisman Trophy runner-up. Vegas could use another instant-impact offensive threat to pair with second-year tight end Brock Bowers, and new head coach Pete Carroll is no stranger to taking a RB in the first round -- Seattle took Rashaad Penny 27th overall in 2018. During Carroll's 14-year tenure in Seattle, he took six offensive players in the first round.

From RotoBaller

Trevor Lawrence Apr 10 10:10pm ET
Trevor Lawrence

Although nothing is set in stone, ESPN's Matt Miller writes that there is an expectation that the Jacksonville Jaguars will take Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham with the No. 5 overall pick in this year's NFL draft. However, a scout recently told Miller not to rule out Jacksonville going with an offensive lineman with their first-round pick. New general manager James Gladstone comes from the Los Angeles Rams, who have used high picks to bolster the trenches on both sides of the line in recent seasons. ESPN's Michael DiRocco thinks a best-case scenario would be Colorado wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter being available when the Jaguars are on the clock, but that's unlikely to play out. Adding Hunter to an offense that already includes Brian Thomas Jr. would be extremely helpful as quarterback Trevor Lawrence looks to bounce back in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Drake Maye Apr 10 10:00pm ET
Drake Maye

ESPN's Matt Miller writes that Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou could be in play for the New England Patriots at No. 4 overall in this year's NFL draft, as they've done a lot of homework on him as they look to improve their offensive line in front of quarterback Drake Maye. Scouts have also said the Patriots would be happy with either Colorado wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter or Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter if they are available. ESPN's Mike Reiss believes New England would consider a trade down if both Hunter and Carter are off the board. "If somebody has an offer for us, I think we'd be willing to listen," head coach Mike Vrabel said. It sounds like the Pats are open to a variety of possibilities, including LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell and Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham.

From RotoBaller

Cam Ward Apr 10 9:50pm ET
Cam Ward

ESPN's Jordan Reid writes that there seems to be three potential outcomes for the New York Giants at No. 3 overall in this year's NFL draft, assuming the Tennessee Titans take Miami quarterback Cam Ward at No. 1 overall. There three options are Colorado wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter, Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, and Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders. The offseason additions of veteran quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston give the Giants flexibility to add the best player available when they are on the clock, and general manager Joe Schoen stressed at the league meetings recently that the team would only go with a signal-caller "if the value was right." Carter could help a lethal pass-rush trio with Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Hunter would give the G-Men intriguing possibilities on both offense and defense. As things currently stand, Sanders could be looking at all fall outside of the top three picks.

From RotoBaller

Kaleb Johnson Apr 10 9:10pm ET
Kaleb Johnson

University of Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson visited with the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday after visiting with the New York Giants on Wednesday, sources told The Bergen Record's Art Stapleton. The Bengals currently have the 49th and 81st overall picks in this year's NFL draft in Rounds 2 and 3, respectively, and it seems clear that they want to give Chase Brown help in the backfield via this year's draft. Cincy has brought in multiple RBs for visits during the pre-draft process, including Ohio State star Quinshon Judkins. They are scheduled to meet with Judkins' teammate, TreVeyon Henderson, as well. Johnson had a whopping 1,537 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns in 2024 and added 22 catches for 188 yards and two more TDs. If the Bengals like the 21-year-old enough, they may have to trade up in the draft to select him.

From RotoBaller

Travis Hunter Apr 10 9:00pm ET
Travis Hunter

Per his agent Drew Rosenhaus, Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter's (foot, shoulder) medical recheck in Indianapolis on Thursday showed that the stress reaction in his foot is healing. There has been improvement and no surgery will be needed. "It should be a non-factor with the teams at this point," Rosenhaus said. In addition to a foot injury he's recovering from, a shoulder injury also prevented him from working out at the scouting combine and his school's Pro Day. However, the 21-year-old defensive end plans to host a private workout for NFL teams later this month before the draft. The reigning Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year shouldn't have his draft stock affected by the two injuries, and there's still a chance he could go as high as No. 2 overall to the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland is expected to take either Carter or Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter at second overall.

From RotoBaller

Shedeur Sanders Apr 10 8:50pm ET
Shedeur Sanders

ESPN analyst Louis Riddick said on Wednesday that he thinks Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders' camp doesn't want him to be drafted by the Cleveland Browns or the other teams that have the top three picks in this year's NFL draft. The Tennessee Titans hold the top pick, but they are expected to take Miami QB Cam Ward. The Browns and New York Giants hold the second and third picks, respectively. There is momentum for the Browns to take Sanders' Colorado teammate and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter at No. 2 overall, leading to speculation of how far Sanders might fall in the top 10 later this month. If Sanders falls outside the top three picks, the Raiders at No. 6, the Saints at No. 9 and the Steelers at No. 21 could all be good landing spots for him. The Steelers are expected to sign Aaron Rodgers eventually, but Sanders would become their long-term plan at the position.

From RotoBaller