NFL Player News

The Ravens talked to Brandon Weeden before he signed with the Cowboys as Baltimore looks to improve at backup quarterback, reports ESPN.com. The website says the Ravens should look at Ryan Fitzpatrick, just released by the Titans.

Current No. 2 quarteback Tyrod Taylor "can get the team through a game if [Joe] Flacco got hurt," the report said. "But, if Flacco had to miss a significant amount of time, the Ravens' season would be over because Taylor isn't an accurate passer."

The Titans have agreed to a two-year deal with quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, reports the Tennessean. The deal is worth up to $8 million.

Whitehurst is expected to back up Jake Locker. He was the backup in San Diego in 2013, so he's familiar with new Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt, who was the offensive coordinator for the Chargers last season.

Former Chargers quarterback Charlie Whitehurst is visiting with the Titans Thursday, according to the Tennessean.

Whitehurst's signing could mean trouble for Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is currently listed as second on the team's depth chart. Earlier in the offseason, the team's coaching staff gave Fitzpatrick a vote of confidence, making it seem like they would retain the veteran. 

Whitehurst has played in 13 games, including four starts, over his career. He's thrown three touchdowns to four interceptions in those appearances.

The Lions signed receiver Golden Tate to a five-year, $31 million contract Wednesday with more than $13 million in guaranteed money. I like this move for all the respective Fantasy parties involved.

Start with Tate, who is coming off a career year in 2013 with 64 catches for 898 yards and five touchdowns in Seattle. He has been stifled by the Seahawks run-heavy offense the past two years with Russell Wilson, but all that is about to change.

Matthew Stafford has attempted 630-plus passes the past three seasons, and even with new head coach Jim Caldwell expected to dial it down, he'll still be throwing a lot. And Tate, playing opposite Calvin Johnson, should see single coverage on almost every play.

This should be his first chance for a 1,000-yard season, and he should score at least six touchdowns. I like Tate as a No. 3 receiver in all leagues with a mid-round pick.

As for Stafford, this gives him another playmaker, which is key. Johnson is the best receiver in the NFL, and Reggie Bush and Joique Bell are solid out of the backfield. Joseph Fauria is a sleeper tight end, but Tate adds another dimension to this passing game. 

Put Stafford back on your list as a Top 5 quarterback, and I would draft him as early as Round 4 after the Top 3 come off the board in Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees.

The Jaguars traded quarterback Blaine Gabbert to the 49ers in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported. 

Gabbert, a former first-round pick of Jacksonville's, couldn't hold on to the starting job in each of his last two seasons with the Jags. Over 28 games he completed 53.3 pct. of his passes for 4,357 yards with 22 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. 

Former Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason, who is an analyst for the NFL Today, came to the defense of current Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, reports the official team website.

Dalton has led the Bengals to three consecutive playoff appearances, but the team is 0-3 during that run, which has led to some criticism. But Esiason says back off because Dalton is legit. 

"I never had a season like he had this year," Esiason said. "He'll be fine. The trajectory is like this, 9-7, 10-6, 11-5, 22 touchdowns, 27 touchdowns, 33 touchdowns. The guy is a really good player. Everyone just has to calm down.”

In 2013, Dalton completed 62 percent of his throws for 4,293 yards, 33 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. 

Jets coach Rex Ryan said nothing has changed with the future of quarterback Mark Sanchez coming back to the team in 2014, reports the Newark Star-Ledger . He also is excited about the future for Geno Smith.

"We'll just let that play out and see what happens," Ryan said about Sanchez. "But it's nothing I'm going to make a comment on."

Sanchez is in the last year of his contract with the Jets and is set to make $9 million with a $2 million signing bonus later this month if he's still on the team. Because of his $13.1 million cap charge for 2014, he is expected to be cut.

As for Smith, Ryan had nothing but praise for the second-year passer.

"I really like where he left off," he said. "The last month of the season was probably his best. I know he had some rocky spots, to say the least. And so did we as a team. But to finish where he did, I think he was the second-highest rated quarterback at the end of the season. Very few turnovers. he ran the ball effectively as well. So he used his legs, used his arms, cut down on turnovers. I think if he could play that way, we're going to be tough to beat."

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson will participate in the Texas Rangers' spring training workout Monday morning before that day's game against the Cleveland Indians, reports MLB.com. While Wilson will be in uniform for the game, Rangers manager Ron Washington said Wilson won't bat.

The Rangers selected Wilson in the Rule 5 draft last December. He spent two years in the Colorado Rockies' minor-league system, batting .229.

"The guy has had a lot of success and he has a championship attitude," Washington told MLB.com."We're going to give him a chance to talk to our young kids and see what happens. Maybe [shortstop Elvis Andrus] and some of those young guys can hang with him and see what he has to offer."

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford received a $27.5 million signing bonus when he agreed to a contract extension last July but agreed to defer $17.5 million of the payment. That balance is due Friday, reports the Detroit Free Press.

The bonus already has been accounted for in the Lions' salary cap.

Stafford ranked third with 4,650 yards last season but his completion percentage (58.5) declined and his interceptions (19) rose for the second straight year, the paper noted.

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill said he spoke to new coordinator Bill Lazor and found out the offense "definitely will be different," according to the Miami Herald. "It’s a completely different system. Bill runs a numbers system. Coach [Mike] Sherman was a West Coast-style system.

"Everything is going to have a different name," Tannehill added. "It’s going to be re-programmed in my brain to work in a different way. It’s a big task.”

Tannehill said he's excited to work with Lazor. “He’s a fun guy to work with. Just his personality coming in seems like it’s going to be a lot of fun," the quarterback said. "I’m looking forward to when we can get into learning the offense. I’m just waiting on that date. ... I’m really looking forward to taking a big step this year.”