Thu Jul 17 5:13pm ET
Field Level Media
Star linebacker T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to a three-year, $123 million contract with $108 million guaranteed, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday.
The $41 million per year average will make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, topping the $40 million average that Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett agreed to earlier this offseason.
Thursday's news will put a bow on contract talks that spanned several months.
Watt, 30, initially caused a stir over social media in April by posting a picture in which he flashed two fingers. That left plenty open to interpretation about his future with the Steelers, with many questioning if he essentially was saying "peace out" to the team that selected him with the 30th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft?
Watt, is entering the final season of a four-year, $112 million extension he signed in 2021. He will receive $21.05 million in 2025.
A seven-time Pro Bowl selection, Watt recorded 11.5 sacks last season to reach double digits for the sixth time in his eight-year career. He also registered an NFL-best six forced fumbles in 17 games.
Watt has 108 career sacks in 121 games (all starts) with Pittsburgh. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 when he had a career-high 22.5 sacks to match the official league record (since 1982).
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Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (foot), who started training camp on the Non-Football Injury list, is expected to be out for an extended period of time due to a frustrating foot injury, sources tell NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Mixon will be re-evaluated closer to the regular season to determine his availability, but it sounds as though last year's 1,000-yard rusher isn't a lock to be ready for Week 1 in early September. Dameon Pierce (undisclosed) is also on the PUP list, so Houston's backfield is pretty thin early in training camp. As things currently stand, Nick Chubb, who suffered a gruesome leg injury in 2023, is atop the depth chart, with rookie Woody Marks also set for a substantial role if both Mixon and Pierce aren't ready for the season opener. Mixon can do it all when healthy, but his health has now become an issue, and the Texans' shaky offensive line isn't a good combination.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Zac Jackson reports that Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (undisclosed) remains sidelined at training camp on Saturday. The Browns are giving the players a day off on Sunday before practicing in pads for the first time on Monday. Ford is reportedly dealing with a minor undisclosed injury, but it remains to be seen if he'll return to the field on Monday. All indications are that the 25-year-old will be back soon. Ford's status is even more important because rookie second-rounder Quinshon Judkins remains unsigned as he deals with domestic-violence charges that could lead to a suspension to begin his NFL career. With Judkins' status up in the air, Ford and rookie Dylan Sampson both are more intriguing for fantasy purposes, although Judkins could still end up being Cleveland's lead back by the end of 2025.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams has been the team's top X receiver during an early walkthrough period at training camp on Saturday, according to Taylor Kyles. Williams, who was taken with the 69th overall pick in the third round of this year's NFL draft, is a burner that could become an interesting downfield threat for second-year quarterback Drake Maye in 2025. The 22-year-old was very productive as a big-play threat at both UNLV and Washington State in college, and he makes up for his lack of size (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) with his speed. New England also added veteran Stefon Diggs in free agency this offseason, but Williams has a leg up as the primary deep threat with no other receiver on the roster really threatening him for that role. He's worth a flier late in drafts in deeper leagues for his big-play potential.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman (calf) is back at training camp practice on Saturday, according to The Athletic's Zac Jackson. Tillman left practice early on Friday with what appeared to be calf cramping, but he's back in action a day later and shouldn't have any concerns going forward. The 25-year-old former third-rounder (74th overall) in 2023 out of Tennessee came on strong midway through last season when Jameis Winston took over at quarterback, but a concussion cut his season short. Heading into his third year in the NFL, he should be a starter in three-wide sets for Cleveland next to Jerry Jeudy and Diontae Johnson. In his two seasons with the Browns, Tillman has caught 50 of 93 targets for 563 yards and three touchdowns in 25 games (nine starts). He has opportunity, but with either Joe Flacco or Kenny Pickett at QB, Tillman's fantasy upside will be limited.
From RotoBaller
Mike Kadlick of SI.com writes that New England Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson is going to have quite the impact on the team's passing game and is always open in the early portion of training camp. What Henderson lacks in size (5-foot-10, 202 pounds) and power, he makes up for with speed (4.43-second 40-yard dash) and his pass-catching chops. The Pats still have Rhamondre Stevenson around as the primary between-the-tackles option, but the 22-year-old Henderson should be plenty involved as well in his first NFL season after being taken with the 38th overall pick in the second round in April. New England also has veteran Antonio Gibson in the fold, but Henderson could be the primary pass-catching back right away and could lead the backfield in touches in 2025 when it's all said and done. RotoBaller has him ranked as the RB23 in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Jon Machota writes that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and new wide receiver George Pickens "still have some work to together." Although Prescott doesn't have any concerns, his timing has been off with Pickens on some routes, and most of their connections have been on short and intermediate routes early on in training camp. "For him, it's just about continuing to master the offense, the routes and the adjustments on certain routes. When he does that, the rest of it is going to come," Prescott said. It's something to keep track of as camp progresses, but right now, fantasy managers shouldn't be too concerned as Prescott and Pickens work on their chemistry. CeeDee Lamb will take plenty of targets away from the 24-year-old, but if he can excel deep down the field, Pickens will have plenty of value in fantasy as a WR3/flex in his new home in Dallas.
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The Miami Dolphins are signing former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones, who started 16 games in 2024 for the Raiders, to an undisclosed one-year deal on Saturday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Jones will now head for the AFC East, where he started for the New England Patriots from 2022-23. The move to sign Jones comes in the wake of cornerback Artie Burns' (knee) season-ending torn ACL this week. Despite starting 16 games a year ago, the Raiders released Jones on April 7 after attempts to trade him were unsuccessful. The Dolphins also released corner Kendall Fuller and traded Jalen Ramsey this offseason, so Jones will now be competing with Cam Smith, Ethan Bonner, Storm Duck and Kendall Sheffield for playing time in 2025. Jones had career-highs in tackles (69), pass breakups (16) and interceptions (three) last year in Vegas.
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Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III (undisclosed) remains out of training camp practice on Saturday, but head coach Ben Johnson said he's hopeful that Burden will be back soon. The 21-year-old second-rounder suffered an undisclosed soft-tissue injury during the offseason program during the spring and isn't quite ready to join the rest of the team on the field at camp. However, Burden avoided the Physically Unable to Perform list and should be back sooner than later as he competes for the No. 3 receiver role in his first NFL season behind DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. The 39th overall pick has plenty of playmaking abilities but will most likely struggle for consistent targets in Year 1 as long a Moore and Odunze stay healthy. Olamide Zaccheaus figures to be Burden's primary competition.
From RotoBaller
The Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan reports that New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson is missing at Saturday's training camp practice, and no reason was given for his absence. We should have an update to pass along shortly on why Stevenson isn't practicing, but it could be just a day off for him early in camp with the players just wearing shells and not full pads. Stevenson's fantasy stock has definitely fallen going into the 2025 campaign, even though he ran for 801 yards on 207 carries for a career-high seven rushing touchdowns in 15 games (14 starts). The 27-year-old continued to have ball-security issues and averaged a career-low 3.9 yards per carry. If his fumbling issues don't improve, the Pats will surely bench Stevenson in 2025 after they drafted TreVeyon Henderson in the second round in April. He has become a volatile RB3/flex in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
The Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins writes that new head coach Brian Schottenheimer "hinted a rotation could be on the way once the regular season starts." Schottenheimer also named running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders as the two backs that were competing for the starting gig, and it would be a surprise if rookie Jaydon Blue, who has drawn criticism for his laziness, has a substantial role early on in 2025. Neither Williams nor Sanders have stood out early on in training camp, perhaps leading Schottenheimer to hint at a possible committee approach. Williams, 25, had lots of promise after rushing for 903 yards in his rookie but hasn't been the same after a season-ending knee injury in 2022. Sanders similarly had a career year in Philly in 2022 and has fallen off a cliff the last two years. If Williams and Sanders end up splitting touches down the middle, it will be hard to get excited about either in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions EDGE rusher Aidan Hutchinson had his 2024 season ended early thanks to a leg injury, but he "looks great" early in camp, according to quarterback Jared Goff. New Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard went further, stating, "I see a better player than we had last year." Hutchinson was one of the frontrunners for NFL Defensive Player of the Year last season, racking up 7.5 sacks in just five games before the injury. The Lions will certainly welcome Hutchinson back to the fold as they have Super Bowl aspirations heading into 2025. His return makes the Detroit D/ST worth targeting as a top-six option in fantasy drafts later this summer.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco, not surprisingly, got the first running-back touches during the rush period in Friday's practice. While that doesn't come as a surprise, Elijah Mitchell worked as the No. 2 back ahead of Kareem Hunt, rookie Brashard Smith, and Carson Steele. While it's still early, it serves as a bit of a surprise to see Mitchell working ahead of Kareem Hunt, who led the team's backfield while Pacheco was injured in 2024. A lot can change over the next month or so, but Mitchell would hold a significant amount of fantasy value as a handcuff if he breaks camp as Pacheco's main backup. Stay tuned.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed is impressing early in training camp. Team beat writer Nick Underhill wrote on Twitter on Friday that he is "up big time on Rashid Shaheed". Shaheed was showing signs of a breakout in 2024, hauling in 20 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns in six games before a torn meniscus ended his season early. The speedy wideout reportedly added weight in the offseason and appears primed to pick up where he left off in 2025, making him an interesting late-round dart throw in fantasy drafts later this summer as the Saints are in need of a No. 2 receiver alongside Chris Olave.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo is impressing early in training camp. According to team beat writer John Boyle, Arroyo "looks like a playmaker" and made several excellent catches on Wednesday and Thursday in practice. The fast progression for Arroyo could have played into the team's decision to release veteran tight end Noah Fant last week, which helped to clear the way for the rookie out of Miami to see the field early and often in 2025. As a rookie tight end, Arroyo is unlikely to be a major fantasy factor in redraft leagues this season, but the early reports are encouraging, especially for dynasty managers who were able to snag him in rookie drafts earlier in the summer.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver Josh Palmer have shown a strong connection thus far in training camp. According to team beat writer Lance Lysowski, the on-field connection between the two has been growing every practice. The Bills brought Palmer in as a free-agent this offseason, signing him to a three-year deal. With early reports that second-year wideout Keon Coleman has been struggling in camp, Palmer has a good chance of emerging as the No. 1 option in Buffalo, as the Bills do not have a proven alpha receiver on their roster. It is still early, but Palmer has a chance to be an interesting late-round lottery ticket in fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks Anthony Richardson Sr. and Daniel Jones are expected to provide one of the more interesting camp battles this summer as both vie to be the team's starting signal-caller in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins. With both players splitting first-team reps thus far, Richardson has gotten off to a fast start. On Friday, he reportedly made quick reads, was efficient, and took care of the ball. There is still a long way to go for both players, but Richardson seems to be the early leader in the competition. The fantasy outlook of the Colts' skill players will hinge on who is under center this season, as Richardson hasn't shown the ability to support multiple pass-catchers in fantasy thus far in his career and would likely siphon rushing touchdowns away from Jonathan Taylor. Jones isn't as dynamic a player as Richardson, but he would probably be a better quarterback for the Indy pass catchers from a fantasy perspective.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is showing signs of taking a step forward at the onset of his second season. NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe mentioned that he was told by a member of the Patriots staff that Maye has shown increased processing speed and has had a good start to camp. Maye should be helped by the team's offseason addition of Stefon Diggs, a player who gives him a true No. 1 receiver after the rookie had limited offensive weapons to throw to in 2024. If Maye does show improvement in his second year, it would lift all New England skill players in fantasy and real life. For now, Maye's sneaky rushing upside keeps him in the conversation as a solid QB2 in fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman (calf) is "believed to be okay" after suffering an injury during Friday's practice. The wideout exited the field after sustaining the injury. Fortunately, it appears he will be fine. The 25-year-old wasn't a consistent producer for the Browns in his first two seasons in the NFL, totaling 50 receptions for 563 yards and three touchdowns. However, Tillman will have a chance to compete for more targets throughout the 2025 campaign. Without question, Jerry Jeudy is the No. 1 receiver in Cleveland. While that potentially leaves the No. 2 spot up for grabs, Tillman has some work to do before surpassing Diontae Johnson on the depth chart.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram is seemingly happy with how things are working out with his new team. "I feel really at home in this offense," said Engram. "I feel like my strengths are being used at the highest level." The 30-year-old, who agreed to a two-year deal with Denver in March, spent the last three seasons in Jacksonville. He had one of his most productive seasons in 2023, finishing with a career-high 114 receptions for 963 yards with four touchdowns. However, Engram took a step backward last season, ending with only 47 grabs and one trip to the end zone while being limited to nine games due to injury. With so much volatility at the tight end spot, Engram has a chance to once again be a top fantasy producer at the position in 2025, although he must build rapport with quarterback Bo Nix. He will also need to stay healthy.
From RotoBaller
According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson stood out even more in Friday's practice. "[The] passing attack is all Garrett Wilson," wrote Cimini. "No one else stepping up." The wideout, who recently agreed to a lucrative four-year, $130 million extension, surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in each of his first three seasons. He's also coming off his best year, ending the 2024 campaign with 101 receptions and seven touchdowns. The latest update from Cimini shouldn't be a surprise. However, with more positive reports throughout training camp and heading into Week 1, Wilson could find himself climbing preseason fantasy rankings. With that in mind, the 25-year-old may have a legitimate chance of finishing in the top-10 in terms of fantasy production at the wide receiver spot, especially with the Jets lacking depth at the position.
From RotoBaller