NFL Player News

The NFL disapproved the contract Smith signed with the Seahawks on April 14, but the issue was amended Tuesday, and the new terms were approved Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Per Rapoport, Smith will have a base salary of $3.5 million in 2022, with the potential for $3.5 million more in incentives. The 31-year-old is a candidate to replace Russell Wilson as the starting quarterback after Seattle dealt the franchise signal-caller to Denver back in March. As a part of that trade, the Seahawks received Drew Lock, and the team still could add to the quarterback room this offseason via the draft or another acquisition. As it stands, Smith has the most experience in the team's current offense, making five appearances (1-2 as a starter) over the last two seasons. Overall, he completed 69 of 100 passes for 735 yards, five touchdowns and one interception and recorded 11 carries for 40 yards and another score in those games.

Wolford officially signed his one-year tender from the Rams on Tuesday, independent NFL reporter Dov Kleiman reports.

An exclusive rights free agent, Wolford couldn't negotiate with another team after being tendered by Los Angeles at the end of March. The 26-year-old quarterback should be the backup quarterback to Matthew Stafford for the 2022 campaign. Wolford made three garbage-time appearances last year, but the Wake Forest product's most memorable NFL moment came a season prior. While Jared Goff was sidelined due to thumb surgery for Week 17 of the 2020 season, Wolford drew his first career start and led the Rams to a playoff-clinching win over the Cardinals.

Stafford said Tuesday that he's feeling great, less than six weeks after he had an anti-inflammatory shot in his arm, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Stafford initially used a brace after the shot but doesn't need one as the Rams begin their offseason program Tuesday. He's surrounded by many of the same players from last year, minus left tackle Andrew Whitworth, who retired, and wide receivers Robert Woods, now with the Titans, and Odell Beckham, who remains unsigned as a free agent. The Rams signed Allen Robinson to replace Woods and Beckham, and the team seemingly has a competent replacement for Whitworth in 2018 third-round pick Joe Noteboom, who signed a three-year extension in March. It's a good setup for Stafford on the heels of his career year in 2021.

Panthers offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo said he views Darnold as his starting quarterback, though McAdoo also added, "that is something I shouldn't have said," per David Newton of ESPN.com.

The Panthers missed out on Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson, but they could still make a move for Baker Mayfield or Jimmy Garoppolo, or else bring in an early draft pick to challenge Darnold. Ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft, it's only Darnold and P.J. Walker in the Carolina quarterback room for the start of the offseason program. Darnold has a guaranteed $18.9 million salary for 2022, the fifth and final year of his rookie contract.

Mayfield (shoulder) wasn't present Tuesday for the start of the Browns' voluntary offseason program, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Mayfield's absence was anticipated, as he's still rehabbing from surgery on the labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Moreover, it's expected that the Browns will look to trade Mayfield following the team's addition last month of fellow quarterback Deshaun Watson. Per Cabot, of the franchises potentially in the mix for Mayfield's services, the Panthers may have the best chance to deal for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Garoppolo is slated to remain away from the 49ers' team facility as he continues to rehab his surgically repaired right shoulder, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Garoppolo, who underwent a March 8 procedure to repair a torn capsule in his throwing shoulder, is not expected to throw until training camp in late July. The report notes that the quarterback has been rehabbing his injury in the Los Angeles area, while Garoppolo and the 49ers are said to be "on the same page" in terms of his offseason progress. In Garoppolo's absence from on-field work, Trey Lance is in line to take most, if not all, of the team's first-team reps, while Kevin Patra of NFL.com relays that it's still expected that San Francisco will move on from Garoppolo this offseason -- likely via a trade. If that indeed occurs, the team's transition to Lance, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 Draft, would be cemented.

Watson is in Cleveland on Tuesday for the start of the Browns' offseason program, while fellow quarterback Baker Mayfield (shoulder) isn't in attendance, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

That's as expected, given that Mayfield reportedly requested a trade in mid-March when the Browns were originally revealed to be pursuing Watson. Cleveland still has a few things to hash out in their QB room before Week 1, starting with a possible NFL suspension for Watson and finding Mayfield a new home. Watson, 26, is still facing civil suits for allegations of sexual misconduct after a Harris County, TX grand jury voted not to indict him on criminal charges in March.

The Seahawks have re-signed Smith, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.

Per Condotta, Smith's one-year deal with Seattle carries a base value in the $4 million range, plus incentives. Now that he's back in the fold, Smith bolsters a QB group that also currently includes Drew Lock and Jacob Eason. It's still possible that the Seahawks could add a veteran option such as Baker Mayfield or draft a signal-caller later this month, but for now Smith figures to have a chance to compete for the vacated starting spot created by the offseason trade of Russell Wilson.

As the 2022 NFL Draft approaches, the Browns are actively looking to trade Mayfield (shoulder), ESPN's Jake Trotter reports.

For his part, Mayfield, who acknowledged that he feels "disrespected" by the Browns after they traded for fellow QB Deshaun Watson last month, "is ready for the next chapter." With the Colts having dealt for Matt Ryan, Indianapolis -- once a preferred destination for Mayfield -- is out of the running to make a move for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 Draft. With that in mind, the Seahawks, who traded away Russell Wilson this offseason, continue to profile as a potential fit for Mayfield, who is under contract for the coming season at $18.9 million (fully guaranteed). The 27-year-old is bouncing back from a procedure that he underwent in January to repair a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder.

Carr agreed Wednesday with the Raiders on a three-year, $121.5 million contract extension, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The Raiders now have both Carr and new top wideout Davante Adams locked in for the foreseeable future. Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Carr's extension also includes a no-trade clause. The deal gives Las Vegas some long-term stability on offense, which features an aerial attack anchored by Carr and top targets Adams and Darren Waller, who is under contract through 2023. The team's willingness to both commit to Carr and build around him could provide fantasy managers -- especially those in multi-QB formats -- with more optimism about the 31-year-old signal-caller's outlook.