NFL Player News

Peoples-Jones could be an immediate contributor on special teams, Ellis L. Williams of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Peoples-Jones, or DPJ, grabbed the punt-return role at Michigan during his freshman season and never relinquished it, compiling more than 700 return yards, an 8.3 yard per return average and two touchdowns over three seasons with the Wolverines. His history as a receiver at Michigan, however, is a different story. He was hamstrung by poor quarterback play, but the evaluators at Pro Football Focus graded him below average in their advanced metrics. The tape on Peoples-Jones shows a receiver that can win at the line of scrimmage, gaining separation, but his route running needs improvement. He'll compete for a depth spot at receiver and will likely win a roster spot based on his return ability.

The Eagles waived Cracraft on Thursday.

Cracraft concluded the 2019 season on Philadelphia's practice squad and he also appeared in nine games with the Broncos from 2018-19, during which span he primary contributed as a return man. The 25-year-old is now free to search for an opportunity with another organization.

Williams had his fifth-year option extended Thursday, Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com reports.

This one felt automatic considering Williams has improved each of his first three years as a pro. While touchdown regression spoiled a truly standout third-year campaign, the big-bodied wideout still posted over 1,000 receiving yards despite tallying just 49 receptions in 2019. His emergence as a deep-field threat despite playing with a less-than-desirable deep thrower in quarterback Philip Rivers only reinforced Williams' obvious growth at the position. The 24-year-old's development will be a focal point of an offense that will see a new Chargers QB under center -- whether it's veteran Tyrod Taylor or 2020 No. 6 overall pick Justin Herbert -- for the first time in almost two decades.

Coach Frank Reich is effusive in his praise for Pittman in a video released by the Colts' website.

It's nothing out of the ordinary for a coach to be excited about one of the players his team drafted, but Reich's enthusiasm for Pittman is really emphasized in the video, which includes a couple glowing quotes from a month before the draft. The USC wideout wasn't an elite producer until his senior season, but he displayed reliable hands throughout this college career, with PFF charting five drops on 176 catchable passes. The 22-year-old further boosted his stock at the combine, putting up strong numbers in the 40-yard dash (4.52), three-cone drill (6.96) and short shuttle (4.14) by the standards of a 6-foot-4, 223-pound receiver. Pittman gives the Colts a big-bodied possession target to join skinny speedsters T.Y. Hilton and Parris Campbell, presumably posing an immediate threat to Zach Pascal's starting job.

Pettis may need to compete for a roster spot, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

Unable to build on a successful finish to his rookie campaign, the 2018 second-round pick was limited to 11 catches in 11 games last season and didn't play a single snap in the playoffs. Coach Kyle Shanahan said he wants to see Pettis look like he's on a mission this offseason, but the selection of fellow wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk in the first round suggests the Niners aren't counting on much. With Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and Kendrick Bourne considered roster locks, the 49ers figure to have a large group of WRs competing for three roster spots, including Pettis, Trent Taylor (foot), Jalen Hurd, Richie James, Jauan Jennings and Travis Benjamin (quad). The second-round pedigree could work in Pettis' favor, but even then he might be limited to a depth role.

Washington signed with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.

The 22-year-old caught 35 passes for 607 yards and seven touchdowns during his senior season at Wake Forest and wasn't selected over the course of the 2020 NFL Draft. Washington likely will be competing for a spot on the practice squad in training camp.

Custis was waived by the Steelers on Monday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Custis signed a reserve/future contract with Pittsburgh after the end of the regular season but won't get a chance to showcase himself in training camp. The 24-year-old went undrafted out of Syracuse in 2019 and didn't see game action in his first season out of college.

Coach Bill Belichick expects to see marked progress from Harry in the wideout's second season with the team, ESPN's Mike Reiss reports.

It's notable that none of the Patriots' 10 selections in last week's draft were wide receivers and it's clear that the team is looking to see more production from Harry -- last year's first-rounder -- as well as veteran Mohamed Sanu, who was slowed by an ankle issue in 2019 after arriving in a trade with the Falcons. Given how much hype there is surrounding this year's rookie pass catchers, Harry could be flying a little under the fantasy radar after a quiet initial campaign of his own. If the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder is able to continue to build on the rapport he established with quarterback Jarrett Stidham last year, an uptick in production is a likely outcome for Harry, who is in the mix for plenty of snaps this season, along with Sanu and top pass-catching option Julian Edelman.

Offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner anticipates using Claypool as an outside receiver, ESPN.com's Brooke Pryor reports.

Prior to the draft, there was talk of Claypool being used as a flex tight end or oversized slot receiver, but it sounds like the Steelers will initially deploy their second-round pick as a traditional wideout. His path to playing time appears tricky on a team with JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson and James Washington, not to mention Eric Ebron and Vance McDonald at tight end. If nothing else, the Steelers might consider using Claypool as a red-zone weapon to take advantage of his 6-foot-4, 238-pound frame. He also ran the fastest 40-yard dash among Pittsburgh's wide receivers -- a 4.42 40 at the combine in February.

The 49ers still expect "big things" from Taylor (foot), according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.

The 2017 fifth-round pick showed promise as a slot specialist his rookie season, but he slipped to 5.2 YPT on 41 targets in 2018 and then missed all of 2019 with a foot injury. He reportedly had five procedures on the impacted foot, with the final one occurring Jan. 2. While the 49ers may still have high hopes for the soon-to-be 26-year-old, he's entering the final season of his rookie contract facing tough competition for playing time. Kendrick Bourne did solid work in the slot last season, and Dante Pettis and Richie James could also compete for those snaps. Additionally, Deebo Samuel and first-round pick Brandon Aiyuk both appear more than capable of playing inside. Taylor likely will need to fight for his roster spot once he's healthy.