NFL Player News

Head coach Sean Payton suggested Smith is primed to "take a big step in his development", The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

It's probably just coachspeak, but the Saints have yet to add a receiver this offseason save for tight end Jared Cook. The 2018 third-round pick put together a solid rookie campaign, tallying 28 receptions and 427 receiving yards along with five touchdowns, proving to be a viable red-zone threat when Drew Brees and company took to the air (Smith was second behind Michael Thomas in receiving touchdowns). It's quite possible Smith could wind up jumping Tedd Gin Jr. on the depth chart depending on how the former improves during his first full offseason, but that'll depend largely on how the Saints choose to build out their receiving corps in the coming months.

Evans agreed to convert $3 million of his 2019 salary into a bonus, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

The move has no impact on Evans' earnings, simply pushing the cap charge into future years to give the Buccaneers a bit more flexibility in 2019. His role as a high-volume No. 1 receiver has never appeared more secure, with the team hiring Bruce Arians as head coach and then allowing DeSean Jackson and Adam Humphries to leave in the offseason. Jameis Winston figures to hone in on Evans, Chris Godwin and O.J. Howard in 2019, as Jackson and Humphries accounted for 179 targets last season. The 25-year-old Evans is looking to build on a 2018 campaign in which he established personal bests for receiving yards (1,524), yards per catch (17.7) and yards per target (11.1). The efficiency will be difficult to match, but an uptick in volume (139 targets) could make up for any decline in YPT.

Beckham (quadriceps) is expected to report for the start of the Browns' offseason program next Monday, Tony Grossi of ESPN reports.

Early reports suggested Beckham was not completely thrilled by the news that he was traded to Cleveland, but even if that's true, it doesn't sound as if the star receiver is planning to protest in any way. One potential complication for his impending arrival for Monday's kickoff is that Beckham was vacationing in France at the time he was dealt, and he now has to make plans to get back in the country two weeks earlier since teams with new head coaches can begin practicing April 1. If that can be managed, it appears the Beckham saga in Cleveland will begin drama-free.

Coach John Harbaugh mentioned Lasley, Chris Moore and Jaleel Scott as options to replace departed wideouts John Brown and Michael Crabtree in 2019, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

A 2018 fifth-round pick, Lasley garnered some buzz during rookie minicamp and the early stages of training camp, but he caught just six of 16 targets for 56 yards during the preseason and then spent the entire regular season as a healthy scratch on the 53-man roster. The Ravens will likely draft at least one wide receiver and still have time to sign a veteran, but their offseason moves so far hint at a degree of confidence in the young holdovers at the position. While he failed to impress at the 2018 combine, Lasley should enter the offseason program with a realistic chance to compete for a starting job.

Miller was the first player coach Doug Pederson mentioned when he was asked Tuesday about the team's depth at wide receiver, Zack Rosenblatt of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

It's a bit early to reach any conclusions, but it isn't crazy to think Miller could enter a competition with Shelton Gibson and Mack Hollins for the No. 4 job at wide receiver. The 2016 third-rounder had just 261 receiving yards on 805 offensive snaps in two seasons with Houston and then spent most of 2018 on the Philadelphia practice squad.

Jets coach Adam Gase said he expects Crowder to catch 70-to-90 passes, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports. "[Crowder]'s a downfield threat," Gase said Tuesday. "We've never had a guy that can really juice it up like he can."

While it's probably a stretch to label the prized offseason acquisition as a downfield threat, Gase is accurate in his assertion that Crowder is more explosive than a typical slot receiver. The 2015 fourth-round pick produced 11.9 yards per catch and 8.0 per target in 56 games for Washington, albeit with just 14 touchdowns among 221 receptions (6.3 percent TD rate). It won't come as any surprise if Crowder responds with a career-best season after signing a three-year, $28.5 million contract that includes $17 million guaranteed, but he does have serious competition for targets playing alongside running back Le'Veon Bell, tight end Chris Herndon and wide receivers Robby Anderson and Quincy Enunwa. With no truly dominant pass catcher among the bunch, Sam Darnold figures to spread the ball around in his second pro season.

Byrd is signing a one-year contract with the Cardinals, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Byrd caught on with the Panthers as an undrafted rookie in 2016 but struggled to stay healthy during his three years with the team. He did score three touchdowns in eight games in 2017, with two coming on passes and the third on a kick return. The 26-year-old will compete for a role as a return specialist and depth wideout in Arizona.

Coach Andy Reid said the Chiefs' legal counsel has advised him not to speak with Hill about the ongoing investigation for alleged battery of a juvenile at the 25-year-old's home, Terez Paylor of Yahoo Sports reports.

Reid's comment Tuesday is the closest thing to an update since March 15 when the investigation first became public knowledge. The 61-year-old coach confirmed that team brass had a discussion about potential responses for different outcomes, without providing any details on the nature of those talks. Hill isn't listed on the March 14 police report, but he was listed on a previous report at the same address. The Chiefs released a statement acknowledging they're aware of the investigation and have been in contact with local authorities .

General manager Jason Licht suggested Godwin could spend time in the slot this upcoming season, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports. "I'm not saying [Godwin]'s Larry Fitzgerald by any means yet," Licht said Monday. "But play the role like Larry did in Arizona. That made (Humphries) a little easier to swallow."

Tampa Bay lost DeSean Jackson and Adam Humphries early in the offseason, with Breshad Perriman the only replacement brought in thus far. Coach Bruce Arians saw his offense in Arizona thrive with a bigger wide receiver (Fitzgerald) playing the slot, so he may try to replicate that effect with Godwin and/or Mike Evans shifting inside when the Bucs use formations with three or more WRs. Regardless of the exact alignment, there's little question Arians' vertical passing attack will heavily rely on Evans, Godwin and tight end O.J. Howard now that the logjam of pass catchers has been broken up.

Mitchell officially announced his retirement at a University of Georgia event on Friday, Doug Kyed of NESN.com reports.

Mitchell wasn't able to play in an NFL game since his heroics during Super Bowl LI, as knee injuries effectively ended his career. The 2016 fourth-round pick will be fondly remembered by Patriots fans after tallying six catches for 70 yards in the aforementioned come-from-behind Super Bowl win, capping off a rookie season in which he caught 32 passes for 401 yards and four touchdowns.