NFL Player News

Draughn has signed a one-year deal to remain with the 49ers, ESPN.com reports.

Draughn, who missed the final two games of the 2015 season with a knee injury, is thus slated to remain part of the 49ers' backfield in 2016, serving as a complement/depth option behind presumed top back Carlos Hyde.

Helu recently underwent surgery for a hip impingement and is expected to have the same procedure on his other hip soon, ESPN's Adam Caplin reports.

Helu struggled in his first season as a Raider, playing merely nine games and totaling just 39 rushing yards, 75 receiving yards and one touchdown on 26 offensive touches. In wake of those troubles, Helu's offseason hip procedures figure to help him regain some flexibility going forward, as he hopes to improve next season.

Rawls, who suffered a season-ending broken ankle in Week 14 last season, is expected to be ready for training camp, the Seattle Times reports.

Coach Pete Carroll said Thursday that Rawls is in good shape and should be ready to go for the season. With Marshawn Lynch retired, Rawls will be the starting running back. "We love the style, he's a great kid," Carroll said. "I can't imagine that he's not going to be right in the middle of it. I don't know who else is going to be added to the team, but he's coming in as the guy that we're looking to him to give the ball to, and he's recovering really well."

Martin is increasingly likely to sign a free-agent deal with another club according to sources close to his negotiations with the Bucs on a new contract, Roy Cummings of the Tampa Bay Tribune reports.

The report comes on the heels of Jason Licht's proclamation in his Wednesday Combine press conference that he was "optimistic" that a deal that would keep Martin in Tampa would eventually get done. With a bit less than two weeks to go since the official start of the free agency signing period on March 9, there is certainly plenty of time for the consumation of an agreement. However, Cummings' sources indicate that "based on the current pace and direction of the talks, Martin is more likely to sign a deal with one of a handful of Bucs rivals". The same sources did not indicate any snag in negotiations however, and there was no concrete indication otherwise coming out of Licht's talks with Martin's agent Brian Murphy on Wednesday. Although they have the franchise tag at their disposal, Cummings reports that applying it to Martin would cost the Bucs approximately $11.5 million for 2016, a hit they've indicated they don't plan on absorbing.

The agent for free agent running back Doug Martin met with the Bucs at the NFL scouting combine Wednesday, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Stroud describes Bucs general manager Jason Licht's meeting with agent Brian Murphy as a fairly preliminary step in the process of Tampa fulfilling one of its stated offseason priorities. No deal will be consumated during the Combine, but Licht described himself as "optimistic" that an agreement could eventually be struck. "I know he wants to be a Buc and I know we want him to be a Buc," Licht said. "I'm sure there will be some obstacles--there always are in negotiations--but we'll prepare for either way." Martin, who rushed for 1,402 yards and six touchdowns in a resurgent 2015 campaign, became a free agent when Tampa opted not to pick up his $5.6 million option for 2016.

The Ravens have a deal in the works to sign Richardson, the Baltimore Sun's Jeff Zrebiec reports.

Released by Oakland at the end of the preseason, Richardson never latched on with another team. Though he's now expected to get a shot in Baltimore, the former No. 3 overall pick will face an uphill battle to earn a spot on the final roster.

Though Jones underwent minor groin-related surgery this offseason, the running back will be ready for OTAs, per coach Jay Gruden, Mike Jones of the Washington Post reports.

With that in mind, Gruden noted that he believes Jones is capable of being a No. 1 back in the NFL, with such an opportunity quite likely forthcoming, with fellow RB Alfred Morris a candidate to join another team in free agency.

Rawls is likely to be the Seahawks' starting running back next season.

Rawls was hugely impressive as a rookie this past season, rushing for 830 yards and scoring five touchdowns after going undrafted. In seven starts due to Marshawn Lynch's injury absence, Rawls posted four 100-yard rushing games, including one 209-yard effort against the 49ers. While an ankle injury of his own ended his season early, Rawls is the Seahawks' frontrunner to start next season following Lynch's retirement. If Rawls indeed cements that spot, his fantasy value should rank within the top 10 in the league at his position, evidencing his incredible ascent.

Artis-Payne finished his rookie campaign with 45 carries for 183 yards and one touchdown in seven regular season games played.

Artis-Payne also hauled in five passes for 58 yards this season. The rookie fifth-rounder was often inactive during the early portion of the campaign, but saw his involvement increase after starter Jonathan Stewart was sidelined in the regular season's final weeks. In fact, Artis-Payne topped the 40-yard mark in each of the Panthers' last three games, and scored a touchdown in Week 17. In a rush-heavy offense, Artis-Payne's stock should improve heading into his second season, but having the likes of Stewart, Fozzy Whittaker, Mike Tolbert and quarterback Cam Newton around make touches somewhat hard to come by.

Following another arrest on Sunday morning, Randle was charged with aggravated battery, drug possession, and criminal damage to property, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Randle cannot avoid breaking the law, as the arrest marks his third since he was released by the Cowboys on Nov. 3, and fifth overall since October of 2014. Booked into Sedgwick County jail in Wichita, Kan. at 8 AM on Sunday, his bail has been set at a lofty $100,000, which could be the final straw in his NFL pursuits. In addition to any legal ramifications, Randle is subject to further suspension for repeated violations of the league's personal conduct policy.