NFL Football

www.usatoday.com The NFL draft seems pretty simple at first glance. All 32 teams make seven rounds of selections in reverse order based on final standings from the previous season. However, compensatory selections handed out to the teams that lose certain players or staff throw a massive wrench into that formula —…

www.usatoday.com Odell Beckham Jr. is set to hold a workout for perspective NFL teams in Arizona on Friday. The veteran receiver missed the 2022 season due to an ACL injury. Beckham hopes to showcase his improved health ahead of free agency. He is a top option in the 2023 free-agent…

www.usatoday.com Adam Thielen grew up in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. He starred at Minnesota State. And he became the undrafted standout who captivated Minnesota Vikings fans for nine seasons. The Vikings announced they released Thielen on Friday, parting ways with a two-time Pro Bowl selection that team ownership called “one of the best…

www.usatoday.com A trade the NFL community had been eagerly awaiting went down late Friday afternoon. (No, not an announcement from Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers …) The Chicago Bears did the expected, offloading the No. 1 pick of the 2023 draft to the Carolina Panthers and getting, according to…

www.usatoday.com The Carolina Panthers are now set to be on the clock for the 2023 NFL draft. The Panthers traded for the No. 1 pick in the draft in a blockbuster deal with the Chicago Bears on Friday, according to ESPN and NFL Network.   The Bears will receive Carolina’s…

www.usatoday.com As the wait continues for resolution on Aaron Rodgers’ future, Packers president Mark Murphy seemed to further indicate the franchise is ready to move on from the four-time NFL MVP. When asked during an interview with WBAY-TV in Wisconsin on Friday whether Rodgers could play again for the Packers next season,…

www.usatoday.com One of the most vicious, and perhaps hilarious, photos I’ve ever seen happened when I first moved to New York in the early 1990s, about to begin what would be a nearly 15-year career of covering the NFL there. The photo was an instructive moment, one that is relevant now,…

www.usatoday.com More than a month out from Day 1, the 2023 NFL draft has already been turned on its head. After publicly establishing themselves as sellers of the No. 1 pick, the Chicago Bears reached agreement Friday, per multiple reports, to send the selection to the Carolina Panthers for a…

www.usatoday.com The NFL community is mourning the loss of Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Bud Grant. The legendary coach led the Minnesota Vikings to four Super Bowl appearances in his tenure. Grant was 95 years old. “No single individual more defined the Minnesota Vikings than Bud Grant,” Vikings owners Mark…

www.usatoday.com Tyreek Hill is staying busy during the offseason.  The Miami Dolphins receiver, who is widely considered one of the fastest NFL players, ran the 60-meter race in the 25-29 age division at the USA Track and Field Masters Indoor Championships in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday. He clocked a time of…

www.usatoday.com Now the real mystery at the top of the NFL draft beckons. Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud? Hit or miss? Maybe the Carolina Panthers are suddenly poised to finally find their answer for another franchise quarterback by selecting one of the top-rated players from the latest pool of college…

www.usatoday.com The countdown is officially on. Current Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has been linked to the Jets after New York executives flew out to California to meet with him, said a decision regarding his future would be coming soon.  In a brief video interview with the “I Am Athlete”…

www.usatoday.com The Los Angeles Rams’ remodeling is well underway. The Rams have agreed to trade All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Miami Dolphins, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. NFL Network was first…

www.usatoday.com The NFL is about to embark on its own version of March Madness. While free agency doesn’t officially begin until Wednesday, Monday marks the opening of the “legal tampering window” or “negotiating period,” in which teams are allowed to contact players’ representatives and collaborate on contracts. Several top players…

www.usatoday.com The quarterback market is quickly settling. Former San Francisco 49ers passer Jimmy Garoppolo is reportedly set to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders, according to multiple reports. The move will reunite Garoppolo with Raiders coach Josh McDaniels, who was Garoppolo’s offensive coordinator for three seasons. According to ESPN, the…

www.usatoday.com Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler could be on his way out of Southern California. Ekeler has asked the Chargers for permission to speak to other teams about a potential trade, his agent, Cameron Weiss, told USA TODAY Sports on Monday. Ekeler and his agent have been trying to…

www.usatoday.com Another veteran defensive player has hit the market.  The Baltimore Ravens released defensive end Calais Campbell, the team announced Monday.  The 15-year NFL veteran spent the last three seasons with the Ravens. He tallied 113 tackles and 11 sacks in 41 regular-season games in Baltimore. Despite Campbell’s release, there is a…

www.usatoday.com The San Francisco 49ers are adding another veteran quarterback to their roster, and one who hails from their home state. Former Carolina Panther Sam Darnold, a native of Capistrano Beach, California, and former USC Trojan, will be joining the San Francisco 49ers on a one-year deal, a person with knowledge of…

www.usatoday.com NFL free agency doesn’t officially begin until Wednesday, but a number of top players on the market are already spoken for.  While the league won’t mark the start of its league year until 4 p.m. ET tomorrow, Monday’s opening of the “negotiating period” or “legal tampering window” meant a…

www.usatoday.com As usual, the eye-popping numbers came in a flurry as the NFL’s free agency market (unofficially) opened for business on Monday. Daron Payne: 90, as in million, on a four-year deal while staying put in Washington. Another defensive tackle, Javon Hargrave, bolted from Philadelphia to San Francisco on a…

www.usatoday.com The Las Vegas Raiders front office is bringing in another familiar face and one of the top receivers on the free agent market this offseason. The Raiders have agreed to sign wide receiver Jakobi Meyers to a three-year deal worth $33 million with $21 million guaranteed, according to NFL…

www.usatoday.com The New York Giants are making a splash move to give Daniel Jones another weapon. According to NFL Network and ESPN, the Giants are shipping a third-round selection, No. 100 overall, in the 2023 NFL draft to the Las Vegas Raiders for tight end Darren Waller.  Waller, 30, is one…

www.usatoday.com Lamar Jackson is a transcendent NFL quarterbacking talent. You might have also heard the – sort of – free agent superstar serves as his own agent and, on that front, well … Lamar Jackson is a transcendent NFL quarterbacking talent. Some (free) advice for you, Lamar: Hire an established professional…

www.usatoday.com The Dallas Cowboys are pairing cornerback Trevon Diggs with another multiple-time Pro Bowler. The Cowboys agreed to acquire five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore from the Indianapolis Colts, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot become…

www.usatoday.com Quarterback Matt Ryan’s turbulent run in Indianapolis is coming to an end.  The Colts are expected to release the 37-year-old veteran quarterback by Friday, a person with knowledge of the move told Joel A. Erickson of the USA TODAY Network, a move that will clear $17.2 million in cap space. The…

www.usatoday.com As if Aaron Rodgers’ inextricable linkage to Brett Favre wasn’t pronounced enough, their football parallels continue to grow. Appearing on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Wednesday, Rodgers revealed his intention to continue playing football in 2023 – and with the New York Jets. The four-time league MVP said he arrived at…

www.usatoday.com After reviving his career with a late-season stint with the Rams, Baker Mayfield will have the chance to lead a new team. Mayfield will sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year deal worth up to $8.5 million, according to multiple reports. He’ll have the chance to replace Tom…

www.usatoday.com NFL free agency officially begins Wednesday, but many of the most marquee names expected to be available have already reached deals. With the league opening its “legal tampering window” or negotiating period on Monday, free agents have been able to seek out deals from other teams and lock them…

www.usatoday.com The Super Bowl runners-up will be moving on from one of their starting cornerbacks of the last three seasons. The Philadelphia Eagles are set to release starting cornerback Darius Slay, a five-time Pro Bowler who earned a first-team All-Pro selection in 2017 as a member of the Detroit Lions. Slay,…

www.usatoday.com Ezekiel Elliott’s time with the Dallas Cowboys has come to an end. The Cowboys will release Elliott, who was the No. 4 pick in the 2016 NFL draft, to end his time with the franchise after seven seasons, the team announced in a release.  Elliott was set to count for…

www.usatoday.com Aaron Rodgers opened up in a nearly hour-long appearance Wednesday on “The Pat McAfee Show” in which he announced his intention to play for the New York Jets next season.  Rodgers, however, is still under contract with the Green Bay Packers, and both teams would need to work out the…

www.usatoday.com As NFL offseason Wednesdays go, March 15, 2023, will go down as a fairly memorable one. It had been circled on the calendar for some time as the official start of the new league year, all 32 teams enabled to sign new free agents and execute trades in renewed…

www.usatoday.com The historical parallels are impossible to ignore.  A Green Bay Packers franchise legend, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, a starter for 15-plus seasons is expected to move on to the New York Jets at the age of 39 – and giving way to player drafted three years prior with the intention of…

www.usatoday.com Quarterback Baker Mayfield is heading to the Buccaneers. He will be competing to replace Tom Brady. This is like going from Denzel Washington to me. This is the anti-Aaron Rodgers move. According to various reports, Mayfield signed a one-year deal worth up to $8.5 million. His salary, according to ESPN,…

www.usatoday.com NFL draft prospect Jalen Carter has reached a plea agreement with Georgia prosecutors to resolve the charges filed against him in connection with a fatal car crash earlier this year, his attorney announced Thursday. Carter’s attorney Kim Stephens said in a statement that Carter pleaded no contest to charges…

www.usatoday.com Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon’s sister and his sister’s boyfriend have been indicted in connection with a shooting March 6 in Anderson Township in Ohio. Lamonte Brewer is charged with felonious assault, tampering with evidence and having weapons under disability. Shalonda Mixon is charged with tampering with evidence…

www.usatoday.com Javon Hargrave was shocked when his agent told him the San Francisco 49ers were interested in him at the outset of the legal tampering period in free agency. He was sold on San Francisco soon after he found out. “My agent telling me that they really interested in me….

www.usatoday.com Darius Slay thought he was on his way out of Philadelphia earlier this week. It turns out the cornerback is staying in the City of Brotherly Love. Slay and the Eagles agreed on two-year, $42 million extension with $23 million guaranteed at signing, according to NFL Network. The extension…

www.usatoday.com ATHENS, Ga. – It was one thing for the NFL teams that descended on the University of Georgia’s Pro Day on Wednesday to assess the physical package offered by defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Surely, there were mixed reviews on that. Carter didn’t even finish the array of drills conducted…

www.usatoday.com The Dallas Cowboys, who had been linked to several receivers for a few months, have bolstered the position with a trade.  The Cowboys have acquired Brandin Cooks after shipping a 2023 fifth-round pick and a 2024 sixth-round selection to the Houston Texans. This marks the fourth trade that Cooks has…

www.usatoday.com The Carolina Panthers added yet another experienced veteran to their offense on Sunday night, agreeing to terms with free agent wide receiver Adam Thielen from the Minnesota Vikings. The 32-year-old Thielen was released earlier this offseason after spending the past nine seasons with the Vikings, where he caught 534…

www.usatoday.com Left tackle Laremy Tunsil is now the highest paid offensive tackle in NFL history, as the Houston Texans have signed him to three-year, $75 million extension, reports say. NFL Network was first to report the deal.  The extension, which reportedly includes $50 million fully guaranteed and $60 million in total guarantees including signing…

www.usatoday.com It feels a little like déjà vu. The Green Bay Packers are set to trade their longtime future Hall of Fame quarterback to the New York Jets. After 18 years, Aaron Rodgers will no longer be in green and gold, following in the path set by his predecessor and…

www.usatoday.com The Detroit Lions are loading up their defense to make a run at an NFC North title in 2023. The Lions signed one of the best free agents left on the market Sunday, agreeing to a one-year, $8 million deal with Philadelphia Eagles safety Chauncey C.J. Gardner-Johnson, his agent…

www.usatoday.com The Carolina Panthers, owners of the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL draft, will do their due diligence on quarterbacks.  Head coach Frank Reich took over the franchise this offseason and held a news conference Monday in which he detailed some of the team’s approach to the…

www.usatoday.com Baker Mayfield signed his new contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, and it didn’t take long for him to be asked about replacing future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady. “Listen, I’m never going to be Tom Brady. There’s a reason he has won so many Super…

www.usatoday.com The Houston Texans agreed to deals with two more offensive playmakers on Monday. The Texans will sign tight end Dalton Schultz and running back Devin Singletary on one-year deals. Schultz could earn $9 million, according to NFL Network, while Singletary could earn up to $3.75 million, according to ESPN….

www.usatoday.com Roger Goodell is “expected to finalize” a new multiyear contract extension next week to remain in his role as NFL commissioner, according to a Monday report by ESPN.  The matter will be decided at the NFL’s owners meetings in Phoenix during a session with the league’s compensation committee on…

www.usatoday.com With more than a week having passed since players and teams first began striking deals, NFL free agency’s first wave seems long gone.  This year’s open market seemed downright reasonable when compared to the big-dollar, market-resetting deals that had become commonplace in past offseasons. Whether due to lessons learned…

www.usatoday.com Austin Ekeler has performed like one of the best running backs in the NFL during his career. But the Los Angeles Chargers standout finds himself in a contract bind this offseason. Ekeler, who turns 28 in May, is under contract for the 2023 season for $6.25 million and wants…

www.usatoday.com The Dallas Cowboys have added depth in their backfield after releasing Ezekiel Elliott last week. The Cowboys agreed to terms on a one-year deal with running back Ronald Jones, a person familiar with the situation told to USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the…

www.usatoday.com Aaron Rodgers is still a Green Bay Packer – for now. Rodgers publicly expressed his desire to join the New York Jets last week after plenty of speculation that both sides were interested. Jets team officials flew out to California to visit Rodgers in early March, according to reports,…