Thu Mar 13 12:35pm ET
Field Level Media
Veteran quarterback Mason Rudolph is returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team that drafted him in 2018, on a two-year deal, multiple outlets reported Thursday.
Rudolph spent last season with the Titans. He appeared in eight games, starting five of them, and was 1-4 as a starter for Tennessee, who tied for the NFL's worst record (3-14). He completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,530 yards with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions.
The rest of Rudolph's career has been with the Steelers, largely as backup, since being drafted in the third round.
In 18 starts (29 career games), the 29-year-old Rudolph has a 9-8-1 record, completing 437 passes for 4,615 yards with 28 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.
In 2023, in a fill-in role, he led the Steelers to a 3-0 record to end the season, propelling them into the playoffs. They lost 31-17 to the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round.
The Steelers were quarterbacked last season by Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, both signed to one-year deals as free agents. Fields has since signed with the New York Jets, and Wilson reportedly is visiting the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants this week.
Pittsburgh has only former Miami Dolphins backup Skylar Thompson signed at quarterback as it reportedly waits for four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers to accept or decline an offer.
Veteran quarterback Kenny Pickett was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Cleveland Browns this week in a deal that sent Dorian Thompson-Robinson to Philly. Pickett is now back in the AFC North after spending his first two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former first-round pick said he views himself as a starter with his new organization. The 26-year-old has a 15-10 record as a starter behind 4,765 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions with the Steelers and Eagles. With Deshaun Watson (Achilles) unlikely to play in 2025, there's a real chance Pickett will compete for the starting job, but the Browns are likely to add more competition via free agency or the 2025 NFL Draft.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Raiders have signed running back Raheem Mostert. Dynasty Analysis: There were few landing spots better than this one out there and Mostert jumped at the chance of possible playing time here. Zamir White was a disaster last year and there was little to no chance of Las Vegas turning to Sincere McCormick as their primary ball carrier. There is still a long way to go before the season starts, but Mostert could very well have significant value next season. His health is always going to be an issue, but this is a big deal in dynasty leagues at the moment as Mostert's dynasty arrow will now point way up.
The Las Vegas Raiders are signing former Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl running back Raheem Mostert to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, sources tell FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. Mostert, a 10-year NFL veteran, had 1,012 rushing yards and a league-leading 21 total touchdowns in 2023 with the Dolphins and will be a big-time addition to Vegas' backfield in 2025. However, the 32-year-old fell back to Earth hard last year with only 85 carries, 278 yards and two rushing touchdowns in 13 games (one start) as the clear secondary option to De'Von Achane. With the move to Vegas, he'll Mostert will reunite with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and will have a shot to bounce back as one of the team's primary backs as he competes for touches with Sincere McCormick and Zamir White. The aging back will most likely be involved in some sort of timeshare, but he could bounce back as a touchdown-dependent flex option if he can stay healthy.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent wide receiver Noah Brown (kidney) is re-signing with the Washington Commanders on Thursday on a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million, sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter. Brown, who caught the Hail Mary touchdown pass in the wild win over the Chicago Bears during the 2024 regular season, caught 35 of his 56 targets for 453 yards and one touchdown in 11 regular-season games (nine starts) in his first year in D.C. Unfortunately, the 29-year-old suffered a kidney laceration late in the year and finished the season on Injured Reserve. He should be all healed up for the start of the 2025 season this fall, though, and will give the Commanders additional receiving depth behind top wideouts Terry McLaurin and newcomer Deebo Samuel Sr. While Brown did have a bigger role on offense right before his injury, he'll have a limited fantasy ceiling as the No. 3 as long as both McLaurin and Samuel stay healthy.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Dianna Russini reports that teams are willing to pay Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson what he desires on a new contract, but they have found the Bengals' current asking price for him in a trade to be "ridiculous," according to one general manager. As of right now, Cincy's asking price on the NFL's reigning sack leader is too high, but there is time for the Bengals to adjust as the offseason progresses. It's understandable that the Bengals are asking for a lot for Hendrickson, who has recorded 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons as one of the best pass-rushers in the league. But interested teams are not only going to have to give up a haul of draft picks but also pony up on a large contract that will likely make the 30-year-old one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the league. Don't rule out the possibility of Cincy retaining Hendrickson.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Steelers have signed quarterback Mason Rudolph. Dynasty Analysis: After a one-year cup of coffee with Tennessee, Rudolph returns to where it all started with the Steelers, where he spent his first four seasons in the league. At this point, he's their best option at the position, but that stands to change soon as Pittsburgh is clearly in the mix for the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and perhaps even Kirk Cousins, should he become available. Rudolph has proven to be a capable backup and has some deep roster appeal in Superflex leagues, but that's where it ends unless Pittsburgh strikes out on every other attainable target.
Free-agent quarterback Mason Rudolph agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal with $4.5 million guaranteed to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers, sources told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Rudolph considered multiple offers, including re-signing with the Tennessee Titans, but he ultimately chose to return to Pittsburgh after playing for them from 2019-23. The Steelers took the 29-year-old in the third round (76th overall) in 2018 out of Oklahoma State. Rudolph ended up taking over for the struggling Will Levis in Tennessee last year and went 146-for-228 for 1,530 yards, nine touchdowns and nine interceptions in eight games (five starts). He's pretty much been a game manager in his five years in the NFL, and he'll represent insurance for Pittsburgh with Justin Fields leaving for the Jets and Russell Wilson unsettled on where he'll land. The Steelers likely signed Rudolph with the intention of him being a backup again.
From RotoBaller
The New Orleans Saints are signing free-agent cornerback Isaac Yiadom to a three-year deal worth $9 million with $4.86 million guaranteed on Thursday, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The deal carries a maximum value of $10.5 million through incentives. It's a return to the Big Easy for Yiadom, who finished the 2022 season with the Saints and also played all of the 2023 season in New Orleans. The 29-year-old defensive back had a career-high-tying 46 tackles (38 solo), an interception, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 17 games (five starts) in 2024 in his lone season with the San Francisco 49ers. While the former third-rounder (99th overall) by the Denver Broncos in 2018 out of Boston College isn't an asset in IDP fantasy leagues, he'll give a struggling Saints defense more depth in their secondary moving forward.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Chargers have signed free agent Mike Williams. Dynasty Analysis: Williams is now four years removed from his last 1,000-yard season back in 2021. His last two years were a mess as he played just three games for Los Angeles in 2023 before being injured. He spent last year with the Steelers and Jets, posting 21 catches for 298 yards and one touchdown. He'll look to get back on track where he's called home for most of his career, but he looks like the third receiver at best. At this point, Williams looks more like a roster clogger than anything else.
Dynasty | The 49ers have signed quarterback Mac Jones. Dynasty Analysis: One of the many "Tom Brady replacements," Jones fell out of favor after three years with the Patriots, then spent time last season backing up Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville, throwing for 1,672 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. For his career, he has 54 total touchdowns and 44 interceptions, proving he's an adequate player, but not a bona fide starter. He'll provide insurance behind Brock Purdy, but shouldn't be on any roster that's not a Superflex one.
Dynasty | The Panthers have restructured wide receiver Adam Thielen's contract. Dynasty Analysis: Thielen is still a good player despite being 34 years old, posting a 48/615/5 line in ten games last season after his surprising 103/1,014/4 bonanza in 17 games the previous season. With Bryce Young improving, Thielen could take another step forward this season, especially considering the rest of the corps currently includes relatively unproven players like Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker. He remains a depth piece in dynasty leagues.
The Seattle Seahawks are interested in signing recently released veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp, according to SeattleTimes.com. Kupp was let go by the Los Angeles Rams following eight seasons with the organization that included him racking up 634 receptions for 7,776 yards and 57 touchdowns in 104 career games. Kupp won the 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award after posting 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 scores. Seattle released longtime wideout Tyler Lockett and traded DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, leaving the team with a weakness at the position behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Kupp is beyond his prime years of production, but he'd instantly slide into at least the No. 2 pass-catching role in Seattle's offense led by new quarterback Sam Darnold.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent safety Juan Thornhill will visit with the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, sources told FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. The six-year veteran spent the last two years with the Cleveland Browns and has eight career interceptions in 74 NFL starts. Signing Thornhill would help make up for the loss of Talanoa Hufanga, who signed with the Denver Broncos as a free agent. The 29-year-old Thornhill was drafted in the second round (63rd overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019 out of Virginia, and he spent the first four years of his career there. He played in 11 games in each of the last two years with the Browns while recording a total of 103 tackles (72 solo) and four pass breakups. Because he played in only 22 games in his two seasons with the Browns, Thornhill was a salary cap casualty as a post-June 1 cut.
The Tennessee Titans signed free-agent defensive lineman Dre'Mont Jones on Wednesday to a one-year, $10 million deal, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Jones will head to the AFC South after spending the last two years with the Seattle Seahawks, where he had 77 tackles (40 solo), 8.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 25 QB hits and a forced fumble in 34 games (23 starts). The 28-year-old defensive end's numbers in 2024 were his lowest since his rookie season in 2019 with the Denver Broncos. The Broncos originally took him in the third round (71st overall) in 2019 out of Ohio State. In his six seasons in the NFL, Jones has 210 total tackles (116 solo), 30.5 sacks, 40 tackles for loss, 63 QB hits, one interception, seven pass breakups, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Tennessee will be looking to pair him with Sebastian Joseph-Day alongside Jeffery Simmons.
Dynasty | The Eagles have signed running back AJ Dillon. Dynasty Analysis: The longtime Packer looked to have a career-ending neck injury back in 2023, but he's apparently been cleared to return and quickly found a job with the Super Bowl Champions. He'll presumably take the job of the newly departed Kenneth Gainwell as a backup to Saquon Barkley, but it's hard to see "Quadzilla" really making much of an impact. If you have Barkley and need a handcuff, he could be the one. However, there's a lot of time between now and the start of next season and that's being a little presumptuous. At this point, he needs to stay on dynasty waiver wires.
Dynasty | The Jets have officially released quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Dynasty Analysis: The Jets are going to get around $10 million in cap relief and now turn the keys to the franchise over to the newly signed Justin Fields. As for Rodgers, he's now a free agent for the first time in his career. Now seemingly way past his prime, A-Rod is likely going to need to choose between Pittsburgh, the New York Giants, and possibly the Minnesota Vikings. He's said to be wanting to play two more seasons, but he's going to need to play a lot better than he did for most of last season to make that happen. Having lost most of his mobility, Rodgers looks like a QB2 moving forward in dynasty leagues and one without too much fantasy appeal at that.
The Carolina Panthers are signing Los Angeles Rams free-agent linebacker Christian Rozeboom to an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday, a source tells NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Rozeboom played in 17 games (11 starts) in 2024 and recorded a career-high 135 tackles (69 solo), his first career sack, five tackles for loss and an interception. The 28-year-old looked great with increase playing time last year and should continue to play regularly as a key linebacker for a Panthers defense that has made defense a priority in free agency. In addition to Rozeboom, they've also added Tre'von Moehrig, Patrick Jones, Bobby Brown and Tershawn Wharton. Rozeboom, an undrafted free agent out of South Dakota State, should start at inside linebacker in 2025 for the Panthers and will be a nice cheap flier with upside in IDP fantasy formats.
Free-agent defensive tackle Maliek Collins reached an agreement with the Cleveland Browns on a two-year, $20 million deal on Wednesday shortly after he was released by the San Francisco 49ers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The deal includes $13 million fully guaranteed. In his lone season in the Bay Area, Collins started all 17 games and recorded 33 tackles (20 solo), a career-high-tying five sacks, five tackles for loss, 12 QB hits and two fumble recoveries. The 29-year-old former third-round selection (67th overall) by the Dallas Cowboys in 2016 out of Nebraska has 30.5 career sacks in nine seasons, including 10 in the last two years with the Niners and Houston Texans. Collins will help bolster Cleveland's interior defensive line in 2025 after the expected post-June 1 cut of Dalvin Tomlinson.
Two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (triceps) and the Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms on a two-year, $30 million deal on Wednesday after he was released by the San Francisco 49ers, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The Vikings were in serious need of upgrading the interior of their defensive line this offseason, and they've done so with the additions of Hargrave and Jonathan Allen. Hargrave, 32, had a career-best 11 sacks with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022 but then combined for only eight sacks with the 49ers the last two years. He played in only three games in 2024 due to a triceps injury, but the Vikings are banking on him bouncing back to his pre-injury level. With Hargrave, Allen and Harrison Phillips on their defensive line in 2025, the Vikings should have a more potent pass rush.
Dynasty | The Steelers have signed running back Kenneth Gainwell. Dynasty Analysis: This is a little bit of an under the radar signing, but it could prove to be significant should the Steelers fail to add much else to their backfield. Gainwell has been effective in spurts throughout his career but never had more than 84 carries or 364 yards in his career. However, the backfield currently consists of a 1-2 punch that includes Jaylen Warren and Gainwell himself. His dynasty value is in flux right now and could rise significantly if this is what the Steelers enter the season with in their backfield. Stay tuned.