NFL Player News

The Falcons have signed Hodge to a one-year contract.

In 16 games with the Lions last season, the 27-year-old recorded 13 receptions on 27 targets for 157 yards. Hodge joins an Atlanta wideout corps currently headed by Olamide Zaccheaus, but the team is far from done in terms of adding depth at the position. With that in mind, it remains to be seen where Hodge settles into the equation for targets, but as things stand, he should have an opportunity to compete for a role in the Falcons offense, which is now helmed by QB Marcus Mariota.

Hardman has new competition at the wideout position after the Chiefs signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a three-year contract Thursday, Tod Palmer of KSHB 41 Kansas City reports.

It's still a net gain for Hardman in terms of potential for production in 2022 with Valdes-Scantling swapping in for star wideout Tyreek Hill. However, the Chiefs also picked up first- and second-round draft picks in the deal that sent Hill to Miami, so there's a relatively strong chance at least one of those picks will be another wideout.

James signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Giants on Friday, Zack Rosenblatt of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

James missed the entire 2021 campaign due to a knee injury, but he showed flashes as a pass catcher for the 49ers during the 2020 campaign. During a Week 9 loss to the Packers that season, the speedy wideout was thrust into a bigger role due to injuries and registered nine catches for 184 yards and a touchdown. However, James' more likely path to playing time in New York will be as a returner. He's averaged 7.3 yards on 51 punt return over the past three seasons and recorded a 97-yard kickoff return during the 2018 campaign.

The Chiefs have signed Valdes-Scantling to a three-year deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Per the report, the speedster's three-year pact is worth up to $36 million. Following the trade of Tyreek Hill, it was clear that the Chiefs needed to fortify their wideout corps, and adding Valdes-Scantling to the mix is a step in the right direction. The 27-year-old, who caught 26 of his 55 targets for 430 yards and three TDs in 11 games with Green Bay last season, will bring a field-stretching element to a Kansas City wide receiver depth chart that also includes JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman, with further depth likely to arrive via free agency and/or the 2022 NFL Draft.

St. Brown signed a contract with Chicago on Wednesday, Larry Mayer of the Bears' official site reports.

The Bears also brought in Byron Pringle as a free-agent signing after losing Allen Robinson to the Rams during the offseason, but St. Brown should still have a chance to compete for targets behind Darnell Mooney ahead of the 2022 campaign. During his third professional season with Green Bay in 2021, St. Brown hauled in nine of 17 targets for 98 yards while rushing three times for 14 yards.

Woods (knee) said Wednesday that he won't be ready to join the Titans for OTAs this spring, John Glennon of SI.com reports.

A prior report suggested Woods was hoping to return for minicamp in May or June. While gaining clearance for minicamp may be a stretch, Woods should have a real chance to be ready for the start of training camp in late July, at which point he'll be eight and a half months removed from suffering an ACL tear and undergoing surgery. The Rams traded Woods to the Titans on Saturday, ending his five-year run in Los Angeles and leaving no doubt that Allen Robinson is the team's new No. 2 receiver. Woods will fill that same role in Tennessee, with he and tight end Austin Hooper providing Ryan Tannehill with some new weapons alongside superstars Derrick Henry and A.J. Brown.

The Dolphins acquired Hill from the Chiefs on Wednesday in exchange for 2022 first-, second- and fourth-round picks and 2023 fourth- and sixth-round picks, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Miami intends to sign Hill to a four-year, $120 million contract extension once the deal becomes official. In the wake of this stunning development, Hill will now exit the dynamite Chiefs offense and get a steep downgrade in quarterback from Patrick Mahomes to Tua Tagovailoa. The 28-year-old is coming off a 2021 season in which he racked up a career-high 111 catches (on 159 targets) for 1,239 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games. In Miami, Hill finds himself atop a depth chart that also includes Jaylen Waddle, DeVante Parker and Cedrick Wilson. Though Hill has the speed and playmaking ability to produce in any context, no longer being tied to Mahomes likely means he'll struggle to replicate the production he turned in a season ago. Hill's fantasy upside this coming season hinges on volume, as well as the on-field rapport he develops with Tagovailoa.

The Chiefs granted Hill's agent permission to seek a trade Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Movement toward a contract extension reportedly has stalled, with both Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network suggesting Hill could now be traded to a team that's willing to pay him what he wants. The 28-year-old is under contract with the Chiefs for just one more season, and any new deal he might be able to land with another team will likely place him among the two or three highest-paid wide receivers in the league. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports the Dolphins and Jets are in talks with the Chiefs, while Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com notes the Chiefs are expected to seek "two first-round picks and more" in exchange for the star wideout.

Robinson agreed Tuesday with the Raiders on a one-year contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Robinson is coming off a 2021 campaign in which he recorded 25 catches on 41 targets for 264 yards and three TDs in 17 games with Kansas City. This coming season, the 27-year-old will compete with Bryan Edwards and Mack Hollins for the team's wide receiver looks that don't go to high-volume options Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow.

Morgan signed a two-year contract with the Bengals on Monday, Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus reports.

Morgan didn't factor much into the team's passing game a season ago, and he likely will serve as receiver depth and a solid special-teams option in 2022. During his first three seasons with Cincinnati, he's tallied five receptions for 29 yards on 14 total targets and has one rushing attempt for three yards. Morgan also finished with 22 yards as a kick returner a season ago.