NFL Player News

The Jaguars are expected to make a strong push to re-sign Ridley, who can become an unrestricted free agent in March, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Ridley's first shot at free agency would come three months after his 29th birthday. He was on the old side for his draft class (2018 first round), got suspended for all of 2022 and then played out 2023 under the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. He wasn't quite the dominant No. 1 option the Jaguars (and many fantasy drafters) had been hoping for in 2023, but he did play all 17 games en route to a 76-1,016-8 line on 136 targets (55.9 percent catch rate, 7.5 YPT). It was enough for the Jaguars to likely offer him a new contract before the start of free agency, though not enough that the team would be willing to make him one of the best-paid WRs in the league. He can start negotiating with other teams March 11 if nothing gets done with Jacksonville before then.

Dell is making good progress in his recovery from a broken fibula and expects to be ready for OTAs this spring, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Ten and a half weeks removed from surgery, Dell was limited to coaching at Travis Scott's Cactus Jack Foundation celebrity softball game last Thursday, though the wide receiver moved around normally while playing catch with other participants. He started pool work in January, and there hasn't been any report of significant ligament or muscular damage accompanying his broken fibula. Dell plans to participate in spring practices and should be ready for training camp even if the Texans want him to slow-play things until then.

The Buccaneers are not expected to re-sign Evans by Monday's 'soft' deadline, which will force the team to take on $7.4 million in dead cap space, Jordan Schultz of BleacherReport.com reports.

Evans and Tampa Bay will continue contract negotiations in the meantime, but as things stand, the passing of Monday's deadline makes it look more realistic that the 30-year-old wideout ends up on the free-agent market. The Buccaneers also have the option of placing the franchise tag on Evans, though that would cost the team a whopping $28.4 million for 2024 and rule out other tag options like Baker Mayfield and Antoine Winfield. Evans has put together 10 straight seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards and been instrumental to each iteration of Tampa Bay's offense to burgeon in that stretch, so whether he receives his next contract from the Buccaneers or a team on the open market, expect his compensation to be remunerative.

Carter caught four passes for 39 yards on seven targets and rushed three times for 18 yards in 17 games during the 2023 season. He also returned 24 punts for 232 yards and 11 kicks for 262 yards.

Carter, who'll turn 31 years old in April, served primarily as a return man in his first season with the Raiders, logging just 102 total offensive snaps. The journeyman wide receiver is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2024, so it's uncertain that he'll be back as a specialist in Las Vegas.

The Ravens signed Agholor to a one-year contract extension Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Agholor will stick with the Ravens after a solid first season with the team in 2023 in which he caught 35 of 45 targets for 381 yards and four touchdowns. The 6-foot speedster didn't enjoy a significant uptick in his overall production compared to his previous two-year span with the Patriots, but his pass-catching efficiency greatly improved, as he had caught just 68 of 117 targets during this stint in New England. He also was reserved into much more of a depth role in Baltimore while playing behind top wideouts Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Odell Beckham, the latter of whom currently is set for free agency after he also signed a one-year contract with the Ravens last offseason. Agholor, who is entering his age-31 season, should reprise a role as a depth piece in Baltimore's receiving corps behind Flowers and Bateman as well as standout tight end Mark Andrews next season.

The Chiefs signed Gathings to a reserve/future contract Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Gathings signed with Kansas City's practice squad back in December and will now get another opportunity with the team. The 2023 undrafted free agent will now spend the offseason competing for a roster spot and will look to make his regular season debut.

The Chiefs signed Washington to a reserve/future contract Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Washington spent time on the Chiefs' practice squad last season and will now get another chance with the team. The 2022 fifth-round pick will now look to compete for a roster spot and can add value both as a receiver and a returner.

The 49ers signed Martin to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.

Martin will stay in San Francisco where he spent last season on the practice squad. The 26-year-old was elevated for just one game during the 2023 campaign but failed to catch a pass.

Aiyuk had three receptions (on six targets) for 49 yards in a 25-22 overtime loss to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.

Aiyuk made an impact on a couple of lengthy receptions in Sunday's narrow loss, but it wasn't enough to stop Patrick Mahomes and company from winning back-to-back Lombardi Trophies. Aiyuk's fantasy season was a success after posting a 75-1,342-7 receiving line across 16 starts with San Francisco. Now entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, another season of strong output from the dynamic wideout should be expected as Aiyuk looks to earn his first big-bank contract.

Samuel (hamstring) finished with three receptions (on 11 targets) for 33 yards while rushing three times for eight yards in Sunday's 25-22 overtime loss to the Chiefs.

Samuel went down clutching his hamstring early in the second half and had to miss roughly five minutes of game time while being examined on the sideline. The physical wideout eventually returned and got involved on a couple of short gains in the fourth quarter to help San Francisco keep its Lombardi hopes alive. Samuel's heroic effort was still not enough to topple the reigning champs after the 49ers fell to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl for the second time in five seasons. The 27-year-old produced strong results from a fantasy standpoint in 2023, scoring 12 total touchdowns while going over 1,000 yards from scrimmage for the second time as a pro. Samuel will have to lick his wounds this offseason before running it back with San Francisco for the second year of a three-year, $71.5 million contract extension that he signed in 2022.