NFL Player News

Allen agreed Wednesday with the 49ers on a contract, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Allen spent the last three years as Joe Burrow's backup in Cincinnati but will move to the West Coast for the 2023 season. Trey Lance has been medically cleared after undergoing ankle surgery last fall, while Brock Purdy continues to work his way back from elbow surgery. Jimmy Garoppolo is no longer in the picture, but the 49ers have brought in Sam Darnold, and now Allen, as depth options behind their two promising young quarterbacks. In his four-year career, Allen has completed 56.7 percent of his passes for 1,611 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.

The Saints waived Luton on Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Luton spent last season with New Orleans' practice squad and signed a reserve/future contract with them in January. However, the Saints no longer had a need for the 27-year-old after signing Derek Carr and drafting Jake Haener in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, so Luton will now look for another opportunity elsewhere.

GM Brad Holmes said Tuesday that the Lions have had "internal dialogue" about signing Goff to a contract extension, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

This is far from a no-brainer, considering Goff has two years remaining on his contract and the Lions just used the 68th overall pick on Hendon Hooker (knee). Their new addition is already 25 years old and still rehabbing from an ACL tear he suffered in November, though Hooker did recently say he anticipates being "cleared 100 percent" by September. Even if that happens, Goff will be the Week 1 starter in 2023, leading an offense with solid blocking and incoming early draft picks at the skill positions in running back Jahmyr Gibbs, taken 12th overall, and tight end Sam LaPorta, selected 35th. A possible extension for Goff might be more about lowering his cap hits for 2023 ($30.98 million) and 2024 ($31.98 million) than actually committing to him beyond the next two years. Even after his 2022 rebound, the 28-year-old is unlikely to ever be a top-10 quarterback and probably can't convince the Lions to give him guaranteed money beyond 2024 unless he really lights it up in 2023. His current deal guarantees $5 million of his $20.98 million base salary for 2023 and has no guarantees for 2024.

Love agreed Tuesday with the Packers on a one-year extension worth up to $22.5 million, including $13.5 million fully guaranteed, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Love and the Packers found a workaround shortly before the deadline to lock in fifth-year options for 2020 first-round picks. The team apparently wasn't comfortable guaranteeing Love a $20.3 million salary for 2024, so instead he accepted a one-year extension with a smaller guarantee and a slightly higher ceiling. The 24-year-old is set to take over as Green Bay's starting quarterback after the Aaron Rodgers trade, leading an offense with Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon in the backfield and Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed projected as the top three wide receivers. The Packers took Reed in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft while also adding tight end Luke Musgrave in round two, tight end Tucker Kraft in round three and wideout Dontayvion Wicks in round five.

Willis remains the backup quarterback in the immediate aftermath of the draft, but he will have to earn the role moving forward, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The Titans selected Willis in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, so to call his future with the team into question appears drastic on the surface. However, after he struggled immensely in limited action as a rookie, Tennessee opted to spend an early second-round selection on Will Levis in this year's draft. Ryan Tannehill remains the clear starter for the time being, though coach Mike Vrabel said that he will let the player's performance dictate their spot on the depth chart as the season draws closer. As a result, Willis is heading into a pivotal time for his pro career, even though he's entering only his second season.

Panthers coach Frank Reich said Young will work with the second-team offense at the beginning of OTAs, Joseph Person of The Athletic reports.

Given that Young was the No. 1 overall pick after two full seasons as an SEC starter, the real question is whether he'll be promoted to the first unit before the start of training camp or sometime later in the summer. It'll be surprising if Andy Dalton lasts beyond early-to-mid August with the first unit and shocking if Dalton gets the Week 1 start (absent an injury to the rookie). The strong probability of Young starting most or all of the season makes him relevant in superflex and two-QB leagues, but he's much less intriguing in single-QB redraft, as he didn't run much at Alabama and has mediocre receiving options in Carolina. The Panthers do at least have a promising offensive line, and they took WR Jonathan Mingo in the second round after signing RB Miles Sanders, TE Hayden Hurst and WRs Adam Thielen and DJ Chark earlier this offseason. The 5-foot-10 rookie thus figures to be mostly surrounded by competent players, though not particularly exciting ones at the skill positions.

Minshew could begin the regular season as Indy's starting quarterback, but 2023 first-round draft pick Anthony Richardson is expected to start sooner rather than later, Zac Keefer of The Athletic reports. "[Richardson's] experience as a player and getting more reps - practice reps, game reps - I think that's how you develop," said head coach Shane Steichen.

The Colts signed Minshew to a one-year contract to provide a veteran backup who can ease Indy's transition to a new franchise quarterback. It sounds like the Colts intend for Richardson to be the Week 1 starter, but his ascent into the starting role will depend on how he fares in training camp and the preseason. Minshew could be the early season starter, but we wouldn't count on him starting many games ahead of Richardson.

Coach Bill Belichick noted Friday that he "absolutely" feels the same way about Jones as he did prior to training camp last season, at which time he complimented the QB's progress, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

When asked if Jones is still the team's No. 1 signal-caller option, Belichick replied, "Yeah, I mean, look, Mac's been our quarterback for two years. As I tell the team every year, each player, each coach, we all have to re-establish and prove ourselves every year. That's what this league is. That's for all of us -- '23 is '23. We'll see how '23 goes." Now heading into his third pro campaign since being drafted 15th overall in 2021, Jones is slated to work under new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, who noted that the team's incumbent starter has "worked really, really hard this offseason." Following the 2023 NFL Draft, in which the team didn't select a signal-caller, it appears as though Jones will have an opportunity to solidify his standing as the team's top option at the position, with 2022 fourth-rounder Bailey Zappe, Trace McSorley and reported UDFA addition Malik Cunningham also in the team's QB mix.

The Browns believe Thompson-Robinson can be the top backup to Deshaun Watson this season and potentially a long time, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

Cleveland wasn't necessarily looking to draft a quarterback, but the organization felt Thompson-Robinson is an ideal fit for the offense being built ahead of Watson's first full season with the team. Thompson-Robinson initially will compete with Kellen Mond but could eventually usurp the No. 2 job from Joshua Dobbs. The Browns play in the Hall of Fame Game this August, which gives them an extra week of training camp and preseason game with which to develop and evaluate Thompson-Robinson.

Coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch said after the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft on Saturday that Lance (ankle) is 100 percent healthy ahead of OTAs, David Lombardi and Matt Barrows of The Athletic report.

Lance was lost for the 2022 season in Week 2, when he sustained a fibula fracture and ligament disruption in his right ankle. Prior to the injury, he was set to lead the 49ers offense as a 2021 first-round pick, but first Jimmy Garoppolo and then Brock Purdy righted the ship, with the latter leading the team to the NFC Championship Game. Purdy himself was hurt in that contest and required surgery on his right throwing elbow in March. While Purdy has an indefinite recovery timeline, San Francisco's brass has mentioned that he's the "leader in the clubhouse," when healthy. In the meantime, though, Lance and free-agent addition Sam Darnold will handle all the QB reps this offseason, which will be key for Lance potentially reclaiming his status as the team's signal-caller of the future.