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Dylan Sampson: Getting reps in receiving game
Thursday, June 26, 2025 4:37 PM
Browns running backs coach Duce Staley said at mandatory minicamp in mid-June that Sampson has gotten work "as a running back and a receiver," Dan Labbe of cleveland.com reports.
Staley also said that Sampson has worked with wide receivers coach Chad O'Shea, and that the rookie fourth-round pick "is able to go play in the slot and also he's able to go and play on third down and maybe sprinkle in a little second down." The running backs coach also noted that fellow rookie RB Quinshon Judkins, whom the Browns drafted two rounds ahead of Sampson, will be "able to do a little something [...] at receiver, too." Meanwhile, incumbent Jerome Ford has already demonstrated tangible pass-catching chops, and Staley praised his "speed" and ability to "pick up the blitz and catch the ball." While all three of Cleveland's top running backs could see tangible usage in the passing game, Labbe hypothesizes that as things currently stand Judkins and Sampson project to lead the Browns' revamped backfield, with Ford serving as the No. 3 back. Sampson didn't catch many passes in college at Tennessee, including as the team's starter in 2024, so it would come as a surprise if he in fact beats out Ford for passing-down reps at training camp, but if the rookie fourth-rounder can manage that feat he'll have a clear path to fantasy relevance in Year 1, especially in PPR formats.
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Andre Szmyt: Resurfaces in Cleveland
Thursday, June 26, 2025 4:11 PM
The Browns signed Szmyt to a contract Thursday, Kelsey Russo of the team's official site reports.
Szmyt spent time on Cleveland's practice squad last December and began the offseason on the team's 90-man roster, but he was waived in early June to make room for second-year wideout Jaelen Gill. Now, with the Browns' release of Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Szmyt gets an opportunity to re-sign with the team and provide competition for projected starting kicker Dustin Hopkins.
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Justin Tucker: Suspended 10 games
Thursday, June 26, 2025 3:56 PM
The NFL announced Thursday that Tucker has been suspended the first 10 weeks of the 2025 regular season for violating the league's personal conduct policy, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Tucker's suspension comes following his release by the Ravens in early May, and as a consequence of the league's investigation for improper conduct relating to off-field allegations. Baltimore selected Tyler Loop in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft as a replacement for Tucker. The veteran is entering his age-36 campaign and declined notably in 2024, connecting on just 24 of his 32 field-goal attempts across 17 appearances during the regular season and two playoff games. Tucker will first be eligible for reinstatement Nov. 11, but teams around the league may not have serious interest in signing a declining player facing both serious accusations and a hefty suspension.
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Cedric Tillman: Should have full-time role
Thursday, June 26, 2025 10:29 AM
Tillman is expected to have a full-time role in 2025, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Other than inking a baggage-heavy Diontae Johnson to a one-year deal with zero guaranteed money, the Browns didn't do much during the offseason to upgrade the receiving corps. Tillman was having a breakout middle portion of the season in 2024 before a concussion forced him to miss the final six weeks -- he was back on the field for OTAs this summer. Following the departure of Amari Cooper last season, the Browns gave Tillman an opportunity, and he delivered. Over a four-game span, he caught 24 of 40 targets with three touchdowns. He's the biggest target (6-foot-3) among the receiving group and could be a factor in a passing game that may incorporate a lot of deep passes if Joe Flacco is the staring quarterback.
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Justin Fields: Work ethic standing out
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 5:36 PM
Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand said during mandatory minicamp in mid-June that his "biggest takeaway" regarding Fields this offseason is that "the guy is just a workaholic," and that "he comes in early, he's here late, and he's trying to digest everything and download all the information and do things the right way," Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.
Fields has made a positive early impression on Engstrand and new head coach Aaron Glenn, with new top wideout Garrett Wilson also saying at minicamp that "[Fields] trusts me, I trust him, we've got a good communication, we speak to each other well, we know what the other is thinking and that's key." The Jets are hoping the reunion of Fields and Wilson will pay huge dividends, with the two having connected on 66 catches for 1,031 yards and nine touchdowns over 22 games while teammates at Ohio State from 2019 to 2020. Rather than splash plays, though, Fields' focus this offseason has been to improve his pre-snap processing and ability to make quick decisions, and Glenn praised the 26-year-old signal-caller's progress in cleaning up mistakes during minicamp, saying the goal is "no negative plays." Rosenblatt also reports that Fields' early leadership has helped him earn the trust of the locker room. Fields is positioned to enter the first season of his two-year, $40 million deal with the Jets as the team's clear starter, and if he can indeed grow as a passer, he'll have a chance to prove himself as a long-term option for Gang Green. Even if Fields' development in the pocket falls flat, he possesses the rushing ability to provide solid QB2 fantasy value with upside as long as he remains the starter.
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Quintez Cephus: Let go by Rams
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 12:58 PM
Los Angeles waived Cephus on Wednesday.
Cephus spent last season on the Rams' practice squad, but he wasn't elevated to the active roster at any point. The fifth-year pro inked a reserve/future deal with the team in January, but he's now lost his grip on a spot on the 90-man roster and will have to search for an opportunity to compete elsewhere. Cephus last suited up for regular-season action in 2022, when he secured two of three targets for 15 yards across four appearances with Detroit.
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Aaron Rodgers: Anticipates retiring after 2025
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 12:54 PM
Rodgers said Tuesday on The Pat McAfee Show he's "pretty sure" the 2025 season will be his last in the NFL, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
"I'm pretty sure this is my last season and that's why we did the one-year deal," Rodgers said, referring to the contract he inked with Pittsburgh in early June. The deal includes $10 million in guaranteed money and carries a maximum value of $19.5 million, with no cap hit lingering beyond the 2025 campaign. Rodgers, who turns 42 in December, said there's "no better way" to finish his career than with the Steelers, a team that earned a 10-7 record and a playoff berth last season with a combination of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields under center. With improved quarterback play from Rodgers and DK Metcalf as the new No. 1 wideout, Pittsburgh appears well-positioned to make some noise in the AFC North.
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Tre Harris: Building early momentum
Monday, June 23, 2025 4:47 PM
Harris stood out in contested-catch situations during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Harris appears to be successfully building early chemistry with QB Justin Herbert, of whom he said at mandatory minicamp, "Every throw he's made to me has been right on the money," per Omar Navarro of the Chargers' official site. The rookie second-round pick said his largest focus at this stage of the offseason, however, has been working closely with wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal to learn offensive coordinator Greg Roman's playbook. Despite getting a tremendous boost from 2024 second-round pick Ladd McConkey last season, Los Angeles' offense struggled at times to threaten opposing defenses downfield. Harris' skill set seemingly makes him an ideal candidate to fill that weakness, with Gavino Borquez of USA Today noting that the expectation should be for the rookie second-rounder to establish himself as Herbert's go-to deep threat early. Harris' primary competition for targets behind McConkey in Roman's run-heavy scheme will be Quentin Johnston and Mike Williams.
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Marvin Harrison: Cardinals anticipating Year 2 leap
Monday, June 23, 2025 4:23 PM
Arizona's coaching staff expects Harrison to take a substantial step forward in 2025 after his uneven rookie season, Doug Haller of The Athletic reports.
Harrison has reportedly bulked up noticeably this offseason, a development that will hopefully help the No. 4 overall pick of the 2024 Draft improve in contested-catch situations in Year 2. Despite suiting up for all 17 regular-season games as a rookie and acting as the Cardinals' top wide receiver, Harrison managed just a 62-885-8 line on 116 targets, finishing as a distant second in pass-catching production compared to TE Trey McBride. QB Kyler Murray said at mandatory minicamp that he's observed improved confidence from Harrison, who will turn 23 in August. That Arizona didn't notably add to the pass-catching corps in either free agency or the 2025 Draft can only be interpreted as a vote of confidence that Harrison will indeed follow through on a notable leap this year, a development that will require him to translate his added strength and size into an ability to more consistently beat opposing cornerbacks downfield, and to do so without noticeably sacrificing speed. He'll have every opportunity to emerge as a true top wideout in 2025, at least, as Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch and Zay Jones don't represent genuine competition to the target shares of either Harrison or McBride.
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Malachi Corley: Not assured roster spot?
Saturday, June 21, 2025 1:40 PM
Corley (undisclosed), who missed mandatory minicamp while continuing to manage an undisclosed injury sustained during OTAs, isn't a lock to make the Jets' regular-season roster, Rich Cimini of ESPN reports.
Corley played just 83 offensive snaps (and eight snaps on special teams) across his nine regular-season appearances as a rookie, despite New York investing third-round draft capital by selecting him 65th overall. His most memorable moment in Year 1 came in the form of a fumble at the goal line during Week 9 that turned what would have been his first career touchdown into a touchback. New offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand acknowledged that the time Corley has missed during early installs means he's "going to have to find a way to catch himself up." Now fighting an uphill battle, it will be crucial for Corley to get healthy for Day 1 of training camp July 23. The Jets have a relatively open competition at wide receiver behind No. 1 option Garrett Wilson, with Josh Reynolds, Allen Lazard, Arian Smith, Tyler Johnson and Xavier Gipson representing Corley's competition for a spot on the 53-man roster.
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