Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) missed his entire rookie campaign after suffering a preseason ACL tear ahead of the 2024 campaign. The No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft was expected to be brought along slowly, but there was a chance he would see playing time in Year 1. With McCarthy sidelined, veteran Sam Darnold started 17 games and threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Darnold is set to become a free agent this offseason, but the team could opt to bring him back. During an appearance on the "Rich Eisen Show," McCarthy said, "All I can ask for is a fair opportunity. That's the one that I feel like everybody's given and it's fundamental. When money gets involved, things get complicated, and reps get skewed and there's different things that come into the whole 'political' world that everyone talks about." It's unclear if the 22-year-old is feeling uneasy about his future with Minnesota following Darnold's breakout season, but it would be a surprise if the Vikings pulled the plug on their latest No. 10 overall pick so early.

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Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter (illness) missed his media availability on Wednesday due to an illness, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Philadelphia has yet to release a practice report for Wednesday, so it remains to be seen if he took part in the first official session of the week. Needless to say, it would take a lot for a player to miss the Super Bowl, so it would be a shocking development if he wasn't ready to suit up against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. The 23-year-old made his first Pro Bowl roster and earned a second-team All-Pro nod in just his second NFL season this year and will be a major factor in whether the Eagles can limit Patrick Mahomes by providing pressure against the Chiefs' stout interior offensive line.

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Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said the team needs a "joker" on an appearance on the "Up & Adams" show. The longtime NFL head coach explained he is referring to a tight end or running back with "exceptional" receiving skills. "They have to be elite receivers that play tight end or running back." Payton expressed confidence in his wide receiver group consisting of Courtland Sutton, Devaughn Vele, and Troy Franklin. While you should always take a head coach's statements with a grain of salt, this could suggest Denver will target a tight end or running back in the first two rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.

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New York Jets linebacker Jermaine Johnson (Achilles) said he will be ready for OTAs this offseason following an Achilles tear in Week 2 of the 2024 campaign. "I'll be ready to go by OTAs," Johnson said. "I spoke to the doc on Saturday and he said everything looks perfect. He said that thing ain't re-tearing. Everything is looking good. The explosion is coming back. I'm excited." The 2022 first-round pick had a lackluster rookie season with just 2.5 sacks before posting 7.5 sacks in 2023. He was viewed as a potential breakout candidate heading into 2024 before his season ended in a flash. Johnson could start slow as he recovers from the major injury in 2025, but the 26-year-old could still pan out as a potential difference-maker for new head coach Aaron Glenn's defense.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are hiring longtime college football coach Charlie Strong to serve as the defensive line coach ahead of the 2025 NFL season. Strong began his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 1983 with the University of Florida and has held several jobs for nearly a dozen college football programs. He was the head coach of Louisville while Teddy Bridgewater played quarterback for the Cardinals and spent three seasons at Texas and three seasons at South Florida as a head coach. The 64-year-old has just one season of NFL coaching experience with the Jaguars as a linebackers coach in 2021. However, Strong has a wealth of defensive knowledge and could be an impactful addition to Todd Bowles' staff.

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Despite underwhelming in 2024 after throwing for a single-season franchise record of 4,280 passing yards in 2023, The Athletic's Dianna Russini thinks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy could make up to $55-$60 million on his next deal. Purdy is entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2025 and is set to become the highest-paid player in franchise history. In a worst-case scenario if the Niners don't sign Purdy to an extension this offseason, they could franchise tag him so that he doesn't reach the open market next year. "Let's make it clear though, I don't think Brock Purdy's sitting there going, 'I'm demanding I want to be the highest-paid quarterback,'" Russini said. Purdy finished with 3,864 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 15 games, but he wasn't helped by season-ending injuries to Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk. He could rebound in 2025 as a QB1 for fantasy managers.

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The Athletic's Nick Kosmider writes that it's probably a no-brainer decision for the Denver Broncos to bring back veteran kicker Wil Lutz in 2025 despite the fact that he has no guaranteed money left on his current deal. If the Broncos wanted to, they could cut Lutz this offseason for a savings of at least $3 million with limited dead money left behind. Lutz is scheduled to make $3.89 million in 2025, but after being one of the most accurate and trustworthy kickers in the NFL this past season, it would be a surprise if the Broncos cut him. Not only does head coach Sean Payton have plenty of trust and history with Lutz, but Lutz also kicked for the New Orleans Saints under Darren Rizzi, who is likely to become Denver's next special teams coordinator. The 30-year-old finished as the No. 7 kicker in overall fantasy points by making 31 of his 34 field goal-attempts and all 46 of his extra points in 17 regular-season games.

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The Athletic's Dianna Russini said on the Dan Le Batard Show that the situation with All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns could "get really messy" this offseason. "I had somebody in the league share with me yesterday that they just think this could get really messy. This is about winning for Myles Garrett. This is about him wanting to go be part of an organization that is built toward winning," Russini said. Garrett made public his desire to be traded on Monday. The Browns are holding firm on their stance that they have no intentions of trading the star pass-rusher and are likely prepared to overpay to keep him in Cleveland. However, this isn't about money for Garrett, but rather playing for an organization that has a realistic shot at winning a Super Bowl. If the Browns eventually give in and trade the 29-year-old, they could easily get multiple first-round picks for him. Stay tuned this offseason.

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Although Denver Broncos general manager George Paton said the team hasn't had conversations yet, The Athletic's Nick Kosmider thinks it will be a pressing question this offseason as to whether the team will agree to a lucrative contract extension with pass-rusher Nik Bonitto. The former second-rounder in 2022 is entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2025 after he finished third in the NFL with 13.5 sacks to earn Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. Denver just signed pass-rusher Jonathan Cooper to a four-year extension worth up to $60 million last November. The Broncos could wait until just before training camp this summer to sign Bonitto to an extension, but the franchise tag is another option to keep him from reaching free agency next offseason. If an extension gets done with the 25-year-old, it could be the most lucrative contract in franchise history.

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Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee), who is on Injured Reserve, is doing well, which is "a good sign for next year." Rice will not play in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, against the Philadelphia Eagles after he had surgery to fix the LCL in his right knee way back in October of last year. The 24-year-old also suffered a tear of his hamstring in 2024, but the good news is that barring any setbacks this offseason, he should be fully ready for the start of the 2025 season this fall. And when fully healthy, Rice should return to being quarterback Patrick Mahomes' No. 1 target in the passing game. Before suffering his season-ending injury, the former third-rounder had 24 catches on 29 targets for 288 yards and two touchdowns. The only thing standing in the way of his fantasy value for next season is a potential suspension for an off-the-field incident last March.

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Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton made it clear last offseason that he was unhappy with the structure of his contract, which at the time had two years left with little guaranteed money. Sutton and the Broncos eventually revised his contract to add $1.7 million in incentives for 2024, ultimately reaching most of them after posting his second 1,000-yard campaign with a career-high 81 catches and eight touchdowns. The 29-year-old is now entering the final year of his contract and has no guaranteed money remaining. He's due $14 million in 2025, which would make him the 24th highest-paid receiver in the NFL. However, he's solid 2024 season suggests he deserves more after ranking 17th among wideouts in catches, 13th in receiving yards (1,081) and tied for 12th in TDs. The Athletic's Nick Kosmider writes it's probably safe to assume Sutton doesn't intend to play 2025 as his contract is currently structured.

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Dynasty | The Rams are reportedly planning on trading wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Dynasty Analysis: Kupp wants to stay, but the Rams are ready to move on. Kupp struggled with injuries again last year en route to 67 catches for 710 yards and six touchdowns, ceding WR1 duties to Puka Nacua in the process. Now 31, those nagging injuries may have caught up to him. Now three years removed from his last 1,000 yard season (a 1,947 yard monster in 2021), Kupp will look to join a contender with the Ravens, Commanders and Chiefs all being mentioned already. We'll see where he lands, but Kupp's days as a true WR1 are likely over.

Dynasty | Soon-to-be free agent quarterback Sam Darnold has been linked to the Raiders. Dynasty Analysis: This isn't the first time we've seen Darnold's name floated as a possibility for Las Vegas and likely won't be the last. It makes a lot of sense after the Raiders failed to hit on either Gardner Minshew or Aidan O'Connell last year and are in dire need of a new signal caller. In addition, they are likely out of range when it comes to drafting a franchise quarterback as their pick currently sits at #6 overall. Darnold is looking to cash in for the first time in his career after a spectacular season in Minnesota. While not a truly elite player in fantasy or reality, Darnold really did prove to be a capable starter and would be a huge upgrade in Las Vegas. Regardless, Darnold looks like a player who should be a starter and a fringe QB1 next season.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars have requested to interview James Gladstone for their vacant general manager position. Gladstone is currently the director of scouting with the Los Angeles Rams. He has been with the team for nearly a decade and has been the director of scouting for a handful of years with the Rams. The Jags recently moved on from former GM Trent Baalke, so this search could take some time. They've already hired their new head coach in Liam Coen. The Jags are also reportedly interested in interviewing Josh Williams who is the director of football operations with the San Francisco 49ers. That being said, this could come down to a two-horse race after Buccaneers assistant GM Mike Greenberg pulled his name from consideration. Both Gladstone and Williams have plenty of experience and appear to be solid candidates.

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New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III made a good enough impression in his NFL debut in the Week 18 victory against the Buffalo Bills backups that he could become a trade chip this offseason. "I thought the Patriots would hold off on entertaining a trade of Joe Milton, who was drafted in the sixth round (193rd overall) last year, for at least another season, but there's increasing belief around the NFL that the Patriots are at least contemplating a trade of Milton this offseason," Boston Sports Journal's Greg Bedard wrote. This year's QB draft class is considered weak, and the Pats could fetch up to a third-round pick for Milton this year if QB-needy teams don't feel like taking their chances on QB prospects like Riley Leonard, Dillon Gabriel or Jaxson Dart. If New England doesn't shop Milton before the draft in April, they could revisit and look to trade him this summer.

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The Cincinnati Bengals announced on Tuesday that they signed free-agent wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley to a Reserve/Futures deal. Tinsley will not count on the team's active list until after the Super Bowl on Monday, Feb. 10. The 25-year-old went undrafted out of college in 2023 but eventually latched on with the Washington Commanders. He was active for two games with the Commanders in 2023 but wasn't targeted at all. Tinsley spent all of the 2024 campaign on the team's practice squad. He will now head to the AFC and continue his development with the Bengals all offseason up through training camp. If Tinsley sticks around beyond camp, he'll likely open the regular season this fall on Cincy's practice squad. Tinsley played collegiately at Hutchinson Community College, Western Kentucky and Penn State.

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NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Los Angeles Rams are willing to eat some of veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp's $7.5 million signing bonus for the 2025 season to facilitate a trade this offseason. It's no secret that the Rams were shopping Kupp at last year's trade deadline. Although they ended up keeping him around, Kupp went public on Monday that the Rams want to trade him this offseason. At this point, it would be a surprise if the 31-year-old was in L.A. next season. The former third-rounder in 2017 out of Eastern Washington had the receiving Triple Crown in 2021 but hasn't played more than 12 games in a season since due to injuries and is on the wrong side of 30. Kupp could still be productive in a new uniform in 2025, depending on where he ends up, but for fantasy purposes, managers need to weigh his injury risk heavily when considering him in drafts this fall.

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According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, linebacker Ernest Jones IV and the Seahawks have mutual interest in a reunion. The 25-year-old was traded to Seattle during the 2024 season. He opened the campaign with Tennessee and tallied 44 tackles before moving to the northwest. Over his 10 games with Seattle, Jones totaled 94 tackles (48 solo) with 46 assists. He added 0.5 sacks, with two deflections and one interception. He played the first three seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Rams. During the 2023 season, the former third-round pick tallied a career-high 145 tackles (74 solo) with 4.5 sacks and six pass deflections. If he does return to Seattle, fantasy managers should continue to expect Jones to have a starting role in their defense.

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According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, the New York Giants may view defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches as a cap casualty during the offseason. Nunez-Roches inked a three-year, $12 million deal with the Giants before the 2023 season but has not performed up to his contract. Duggan noted that the 31-year-old was "overexposed after being elevated to the No. 2 defensive tackle spot next to Dexter Lawrence this season." In 2024, Nunez-Roches tallied 52 tackles (14 solo) with 38 assists. He added two sacks, which tied a previous career-high he set during the 2022 season. If the team were to part ways with Nunez-Roches before the 2025 season, Elijah Chatman could have an increased role next season, as he was typically deployed as a rotational piece on the defensive line in 2024.

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According to Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald, the Miami Dolphins have shown interest in drafting a quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft. Kelly noted that the team had had discussions with Alabama's Jalen Milroe and Oregon's Dillon Gabriel at the Senior Bowl about potentially being the team's backup quarterback behind Tua Tagovailoa. Kelly noted that Ole Miss' Jaxon Dart did not say if the Dolphins contacted him. While Tagovailoa is still viewed as the franchise quarterback, he has missed time throughout his career and his injuries impacted Miami's playoff push in 2024. This season, Tagovailoa suffered another concussion during Week 2 and missed the following four games. Then, later in the season, he suffered a hip injury, which kept him sidelined during the final two games. However, he was effective when he was on the field, averaging 260.6 yards per game with 19 TDs. Fantasy managers in dynasty formats should continue to monitor this situation, as the Dolphins may be willing to spend a Day 2 pick on a quarterback to sit behind Tagovailoa.

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