NFL Player News

GM Andrew Berry noted recently that the Browns could proceed cautiously this offseason with Thompson-Robinson, who is bouncing back from a season-ending hip injury, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

"We always want to be cautious and mindful of our guys coming back from injury concerns," Berry noted last Tuesday. Though the hip issue that landed Thompson-Robinson on IR last December didn't require surgery, the QB has still been undergoing rehab of late, and with the Browns having added Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley in free agency, the team can afford to proceed deliberately with both Thompson-Robinson and Deshaun Watson (shoulder). As a fifth-round rookie last season, Thompson-Robinson drew three starts, but he has a very narrow path to playing time in 2024.

Watson (shoulder) recently said on his QB Unplugged podcast that he's "in a great spot" and has "plenty of time to ramp up the throwing sessions," per Nick Shook of NFL.com.

Watson is believed to have resumed throwing in mid-to-late March, after undergoing surgery Nov. 21 to repair a displaced glenoid fracture in his right shoulder. He'll presumably be absent/limited throughout OTAs and minicamp but may be ready for full participation when the Browns open training camp in late July. While a fully guaranteed contract ensures Watson will get another shot as the starter despite his disappointing performances in 2022 and 2023, the Browns prioritized QB depth this offseason by signing experienced backups in Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley. They also upgraded their receiver group, trading for Jerry Jeudy and then signing him to a three-year extension.

Heinicke took a pay cut in March to stay with the Falcons, reducing his $5 million base salary to $1.21 million, ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein reports.

He also converted a $1.32 million roster bonus to a signing bonus and agreed to remove the $40,000 per-game roster bonuses from his contract. He's left with $2.53 million in real-money compensation for the second and final year of his deal, with a $4.53 million cap hit. Heinicke is in excellent position for the backup QB role behind Kirk Cousins, after Desmond Ridder was traded to Arizona for Rondale Moore in mid-March. The Falcons still have time to bring in competition, but it may not be a priority given that Heinicke's track record suggests he's qualified for the second spot on the depth chart. They'll at least need to bring in a camp arm or two, seeing as Cousins and Heinicke are the only QBs on the roster at the beginning of April.

Wentz signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs on Monday, Jordan Schultz of BleacherReport.com reports.

Wentz should slot in as Kansas City's top backup quarterback behind Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, considering his competition includes Chris Oladokun and Ian Book as of now. Wentz completed 17 of 24 passes for 163 yards, two touchdowns and one interception to go along with 17 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown during the 2023 campaign as a reserve for the Rams.

The Commanders have signed Driskel.

Driskel, who has appeared in 24 regular-season contests (including 12 starts) during his NFL career, last saw game action Week 18 with the Browns when he drew a spot start in place of Joe Flacco, who the team elected to rest ahead of the 2023 postseason. With the Commanders, Driskel adds depth to a QB corps that also includes Marcus Mariota and Jake Fromm and likely will be rounded out by a first-round rookie later this month.

Daniels, who opted to not throw at the NFL Scouting Combine, did so at LSU's Pro Day on Wednesday, Eric Edholm of NFL.com reports.

Per the report, Daniels, who measured in at 6-foot-3⅝, 210 pounds, was slated to spend time afterward with the Patriots, Commanders, Giants, Vikings, Broncos and Raiders. As next month's draft approaches, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner is viewed as one of the top options at the QB position along with USC's Caleb Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy. While Williams is expected to be selected first overall, where Daniels lands remains to be seen, though what is clear is that the top four signal-callers figure to come off the board quickly, in any case.

Sudfeld (knee) re-signed with the Lions on Wednesday.

Sudfeld missed all of last season after suffering a torn ACL in a preseason game against the Panthers. Though Jared Goff's top backup from 2023, Teddy Bridgewater, has since retired, Sudfeld may still find himself as the No. 3 option on the depth chart in 2024 behind Goff and 2023 third-round draft pick Hendon Hooker.

Goff and the Lions have begun negotiations on a contract extension, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

The same is true for star wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown, one of the team's nine regular starters on offense currently under contract with the Lions for 2024. The two exceptions are wide receiver Josh Reynolds, who averaged 3.8 targets per game last year, and right guard Jonah Jackson, who has already been replaced by 2023 Pro Bowler Kevin Zeitler. Even offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is back for another year, after many assumed he'd leave for a head coaching job. Goff has just one season and $27.3 million remaining on a four-year extension he originally signed with the Rams. What was once viewed as an overpay has now become one of the best values among veteran QB contracts, with the 29-year-old coming off consecutive seasons with more than 4,400 passing yards and at least 29 TDs. Goff hasn't quite been as effective for fantasy managers, as he offers next to nothing on the ground and plays in an offense that got 47 rushing TDs from its running backs over the past two seasons.

The Cowboys haven't offered Prescott a contract extension, with player and team having a "mutual understanding" of the situation as he enters a contract season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Prescott had one of his best statistical seasons in 2023, but the Cowboys may be hesitant to commit long term after yet another disappointment in the playoffs. On the other hand, Prescott is scheduled for a $55.46 million cap hit in 2024 even after restructuring with void years, and an extension would allow the Cowboys to significantly lower that number. He'll turn 31 in August, and without a significant addition in the draft, he may play 2024 behind the worst offensive line he's ever had while also working with a diminished supporting cast following the departure of Tony Pollard.

Jets chairman Woody Johnson suggested Monday that if the Jets don't trade Wilson, they intend to keep the QB, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

That said, Cimini notes that the Jets remain motivated to deal Wilson, who last month was granted permission to speak to other teams about a possible trade. Given that Tyrod Taylor was recently signed by the Jets to back up Aaron Rodgers (Achilles), a change of scenery would no doubt benefit Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. In three seasons since then, the 24-year-old has compiled a 12-21 record as a starter and thrown more interceptions (25) than TD passes (23).