Packers QB Aaron Rodgers gave his thoughts on retirement on Wednesday night. “I think about it all the time,” he said. “When you commit, you’re 100 percent. But the older you get, the interests change, and the grind, I think, wears on you a little more.” Rodgers later said that he could “definitely see the end coming” — hardly a surprise, as he’ll turn 39 in December. Of course, Rodgers has already toyed with the thought of retirement. However, he’s currently signed through the 2024 season.
Jets DC Jeff Ulbrich said this week that the team has a "hard-and-fast" rule about D-linemen playing no more than 30-35 snaps per game, according to Connor Hughes of The Athletic. The goal is obviously to keep the defensive front fresh throughout the game. The downside for IDP purposes, of course, is that limited playing time for Quinnen Williams, Carl Lawson, John Franklin-Myers and Jermaine Johnson can limit their stat upside. We'll see just how hard-and-fast that rule is, though. Williams exceeded 35 snaps in 10 of his 15 games last season, and he was coming off an offseason foot fracture. For now, we'll treat this more as something to watch in season than a reason to alter draft outlooks -- especially because none of the aforementioned Jets sit too high in the IDP rankings.
Jets HC Robert Salah called rookie RB Breece Hall a “home run hitter.” Salah went on to talk about the importance of explosive plays. New York traded up to land Hall, who posted 22 runs of 15+ yards last season (253-carry sample). He set a personal-best in YPC (5.8). Current projections have the Iowa State product clearing 250 touches.
Jets TE Jeremy Ruckert is currently sidelined with a foot injury, HC Robert Saleh said Saturday. This is presumably the plantar fasciitis that knocked Ruckert out of Senior Bowl practices and prevented him from working out at the Combine. Saleh is "hoping" that Ruckert is able to get in some work this spring, but plantar fasciitis can be unpredictable. We'll keep an eye on the situation. But between the injury and the presence of free-agent additions Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah, Ruckert isn't a recommended target in early best-ball drafts.
The Jets selected RB Breece Hall with the 36th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Hall spent nearly all of his 3 seasons starting at Iowa State. He opened his sophomore year with 8 straight 100-yard games and finished it as the FBS leader in rushing yards. He earned All-America honors each of the past 2 seasons. Hall followed a stellar career – including 82 receptions at 9.0 yards per catch – by running a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at 217 pounds (a 97th-percentile speed score). Hall joins a Jets backfield alongside 2021 4th-rounder Michael Carter. Hall is the favorite to lead the way in touches, but this isn’t a great landing spot for his fantasy value.
The Jets traded up with Tennessee to take EDGE Jermaine Johnson II with the 26th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Johnson played sparingly across 2 seasons at Georgia before transferring to Florida State. He racked up 17.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks over 12 games in his lone season with the Seminoles. Throw in an 89th-percentile speed score at 6'5 and 254 pounds, and Johnson carries attractive IDP upside.
The Jets selected Ohio State WR Garrett Wilson with the 10th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Wilson is a dynamic mover both in his routes and after the catch. He’s been compared to Odell Beckham in that regard, and we saw shades of Kadarius Toney watching Wilson’s tape. Wilson tested as a 78th percentile athlete at the Combine, with a 4.38-second 40 time. He didn’t put up huge numbers at Ohio State but battled for targets with WRs Chris Olave (who will go later in the 1st round this year) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (who figures to be a 1st-rounder next year). Wilson ranked top 24 in Pro Football Focus’ receiving grades in each of the last 2 seasons. He played primarily in the slot in 2020 before kicking outside this past year. Wilson was more effective on the inside both years, though. He’s 6’0, 183 pounds and struggled at times vs. physical coverage in college, so he projects best in the slot as a pro. We’ll see exactly how he fits alongside WR Elijah Moore, who played 26.3% of his snaps in the slot last year. Check out the initial projections and ranking for Wilson.
The Jets spent the 4th pick of the NFL Draft on CB Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner. The 6'3 cover man ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the Combine (88th percentile among corners). Gardner grabbed 9 INTs across 3 seasons at Cincinnati but totaled just 99 tackles over 33 games. Don't bet on Gardner being a huge fantasy contributor.
The Falcons on Tuesday announced that they have signed TE Anthony Firkser. The former Titan never reached 40 receptions in a season across 4 years with Tennessee, and actually saw his receptions per game and yards per catch dip in 2021. We're not expecting fantasy significance from Firkser in Atlanta, where #2 TE Hayden Hurst finished just 37th at the position in PPR scoring last year.
The Jets on Saturday announced the signing of former Cowboys and Rams K Greg Zuerlein. The 2021 Jets split kicking duties between Matt Ammendola (13 of 19 on FGs) and Eddy Pineiro (8 of 8). Zuerlein's plus-50-yard range gives him nice weekly fantasy upside, but he has also hit a mediocre 80% of FG attempts over the past 3 seasons. Playing for the Jets probably won't help his extra-point volume.
Both Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport report that the Packers are trading WR Davante Adams to the Raiders. Rapoport says Vegas is dealing a 1st-round pick "potentially more picks and a player," while Schefter says "two prime 2022 picks" are involved. Both also report that Adams is getting a 5-year contract from his new team that will make him the highest paid WR ever. The move reunites Adams with QB Derek Carr, who he played with at Fresno State. Adams, of course, has spent nearly all of his pro career to date working with QB Aaron Rodgers. The Packers QB, meanwhile, is now left without a lead WR. The trade has reportedly been quietly in the works for days, so we'll assume this news isn't being broken to Rodgers. We'll see how Green Bay addresses its pass-catching corps for 2022 (and beyond) after keeping Rodgers in town this offseason with an extension. Adams loses some draft value, for both the general uncertainty and joining an offense that has treated TE Darren Waller as the clear lead target in recent years. Adams should easily snatch the lead wideout role from 2021 target leader Hunter Renfrow, but we'd bet Adams' target ceiling coming down. Waller loses some target upside as well but should be operating in the best pass offense he's been in to date. We're not moving him significantly in 2022 outlook right now.
NFL Network reports that the Jets are signing TE Tyler Conklin. It's a somewhat curious move for both sides this early in the free-agent cycle, given that the Jets have already agreed to a deal with TE C.J. Uzomah. The arrival of both players lowers the fantasy ceiling for each. Expect both to settle well down into reserve territory in our TE rankings.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Giants are expected to sign QB Tyrod Taylor to a 2-year, $17 million deal, with $8.5 million of that guaranteed. Taylor will back up Daniel Jones, and his work with Houston last year -- where he lost the starting job to 3rd-round rookie Davis Mills -- points to Taylor not being a threat to Jones' job. So this move looks like good news or Jones' chances of making it through 2022 as the Giants starter.
The Jets have agreed to a 3-year, $33 million deal with CB D.J. Reed, according to multiple reports. that position's the former Seahawk as the Jets' top corner. Reed spent just 1.5 of his 4 seasons in Seattle as a starter after arriving with some question as to whether he'd play safety or corner. In 2021, however, Pro Football Focus graded him 16th-best in coverage among 129 CBs who played at least 200 snaps. Reed won't turn 26 until November and will be well worth a look in CB-required IDP leagues.
The Packers are tendering WR Allen Lazard at the 2nd-round level. That means any team would need to surrender a Round 2 selection to Green Bay if it wants to sign the restricted free agent. We'd bet on Lazard sticking with the only team he has played for. We'll see whether the Packers at more to the position this offseason. Lazard looks fine as a late-round pick in current best-ball drafting.
The Eagles have agreed to a 3-year, $45 million deal with former Panthers DE Haason Reddick, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. The deal includes $30 million in guarantees and could reach $49.5 million in total money. Reddick took a 1-year "prove it" deal with Carolina as a 2021 free agent -- and he proved it. Reddick followed a 12.5-sack breakout in Arizona with 11 more sacks and a career-high 18 QB hits with the Panthers. Reddick could see time at either end for the Eagles, who have a bit more sorting out to do at DE. Josh Sweat is coming off an emergent campaign -- that saw him play on the left side most often -- while Brandon Graham is coming off injury and heading into his age-34 campaign.
NFL Network reports that WR Davante Adams has told the Packers he doesn't plan to play under the franchise tag this season. The veteran is seeking a long-term deal as he heads into his 9th NFL season, which will find him turning 30 in December. Adams won't be required to show up for any team activities until he signs his tender, so there's potential for a training-camp/preseason holdout if the 2 sides can't nail down an agreement. Green Bay has already reportedly offered money that would make Adams the highest-paid WR by annual salary, so we'd guess they get something done. We'll keep watch on the situation, though.
The Cowboys released K Greg Zuerlein, saving about $2.5 million against the 2022 salary cap. Zuerlein missed 6 FGs and 6 XPs last season but figures to get another shot at a starting job this summer. We'll see where he lands and who Dallas tabs to replace him.
The Packers have applied the franchise tag to WR Davante Adams, keeping him off the free-agent market. The 2 sides will likely try to work out a longer-term deal, especially after Green Bay extended QB Aaron Rodgers. For fantasy football purposes, though, we can comfortably bet on Adams sticking with the Packers for at least 2022 (with his QB). Adams remains 1 of the safest early picks across fantasy formats.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Packers have reached a new deal with QB Aaron Rodgers that will pay him $200 million over 4 years, with $153 million guaranteed. That tells us we should expect at least 3 more years of Rodgers as the Green Bay starter (assuming health and no retirement, of course). It also means that Jordan Love will have to wait even longer than Rodgers once did for his own NFL starting shot -- barring a trade out of town.
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