NFL Player News

Crabtree was informed of his release Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Signed to a three-year, $21 million contract last offseason, Crabtree was held to a woeful 6.1 yards per target in 2018, catching 54 passes for 607 yards and three touchdowns in 16 games. Team context in Baltimore may have been part of the problem, but John Brown and Willie Snead both had more yards on fewer targets. Coming off five straight seasons below 7.0 YPT, the 31-year-old wideout may find it difficult to land a surefire starting job. There are very few situations where Crabtree would warrant fantasy consideration beyond a late-round flier.

The Chiefs signed Grayson on Friday, Brooke Pryor of The Kansas City Star reports.

The Chiefs waived Grayson with an undisclosed injury in May 2018, but he'll get another shot with the team. Grayson has 11 other receivers ahead of him on the depth chart, so he'll likely need to make an impact on special teams to secure a roster spot.

Taylor is excited for a healthy offseason and has already started his training program, Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area reports. "I think that's just such an advantage," Taylor said, "to be able to only think about building your body up with no limitations going on. I think whenever you have to worry about an injury throughout the offseason there's so much you have to hold back from."

Taylor dealt with shoulder and back injuries last offseason, coming off a 2017 rookie campaign in which he caught 43 passes for 430 yards and two touchdowns. He took a big step back in 2018 with a 26-215-1 receiving line, averaging just 22.9 snaps in 14 games while sometimes losing work to fellow slot receiver Richie James. The two players figure to battle for playing time in 2019, with new assistant coach Wes Welker brought in to help the development process. Veteran wide receiver Pierre Garcon won't be retained, but Marquise Goodwin (Achilles), Dante Pettis and Kendrick Bourne are all under team control for at least two more years.

Thomas has signed with a new agent from the same agency, now working with Andrew Kessler of Athletes First, Josh Katzenstein of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Thomas has averaged 107 catches for 1,262 yards and 7.7 TDs in three pro seasons, and his status as a second-round pick means the Saints don't have the ability to exercise a fifth-year option on his rookie contract. The soon-to-be 26-year-old thus figures to sign a massive extension at some point this offseason, with a franchise tag looming in 2020 if no agreement comes into place. Thomas has a solid argument to match Odell Beckham, who signed a five-year, $90 million extension in August with $41 million fully guaranteed (per overthecap.com).

Strong signed a contract Wednesday with the Browns, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Selected 70th overall in the 2015 draft, Strong never had much of an impact in Houston and eventually moved on to Jacksonville, where he suffered a torn ACL in December 2017. Now healthy after spending a year out of football, the 25-year-old wide receiver will battle for a roster spot in Cleveland.

Thielen's agent is cautiously optimistic the Vikings will reward his client with a new contract this offseason, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.

Thielen has two seasons remaining on a four-year, $19.25 million contract, with base salaries of $5.85 million in 2019 and $5.35 million in 2020, per OverTheCap.com. He's arguably the best value in the league for a player not on a rookie contract -- a result of being a late bloomer who signed his deal after a 967-yard breakout campaign in 2016. Thielen took another leap in 2017 with 1,276 receiving yards, followed by 1,373 yards and nine touchdowns in 2018. He can easily make the case he's more valuable than teammate Stefon Diggs, who signed a five-year, $72 million extension in July. Of course, the issue is leverage in negotiations rather than on-field value, especially with Thielen's agent suggesting the 28-year-old isn't planning on a holdout. An extension would make sense for all parties, but it's hard to imagine any resolution in which Thielen approaches his open-market value.

Parker is unlikely to return to the Dolphins in 2019, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald reports.

The 14th overall pick from the 2015 draft is technically under team control for 2019 via the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, but the $9.4 million salary is guaranteed for injury only. Parker suffered a shoulder injury in November, but he's presumably fine to pass a physical after playing in six straight games to close out the season. He was held to 10 catches for 84 yards during that stretch, finishing the year with a 24-309-1 receiving line on 47 targets (6.6 yards per target) in 11 games. His YPT mark has decreased each year he's been in the league, but the 26-year-old still should draw some interest on the open market thanks to his draft pedigree and 6-foot-3 frame. Parker has nine touchdowns and four 100-yard games through 54 NFL appearances.

Scott (ankle) signed a one-year deal with the Chargers on Wednesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Scott went undrafted out of Clemson in 2017, spending his rookie season on the Chargers' practice squad and his sophomore campaign on injured reserve. He made a decent case for a spot on the 53-man roster before injuring his ankle in the final week of the 2018 preseason, but the Chargers probably weren't too upset about stashing him on IR. The 24-year-old slot receiver should be healthy before the start of the offseason program if he isn't already. He'll have an easier path to a roster spot if Tyrell WIlliams and Travis Benjamin aren't still around in Los Angeles.

The Giants don't plan to trade Beckham (quadriceps), but they're probably willing to listen to offers if another team calls, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports.

Signed to a five-year, $90 million extension last offseason, Beckham caught 77 of 124 targets for 1,052 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games before missing the final four weeks of 2018 with a quad injury. He should make a full recovery before the start of the offseason program, if he isn't already back to 100 percent. Trade rumors are reasonable in the sense that Beckham would be more valuable to a team with good playoff odds, but any deal would essentially be a concession to a major rebuild in New York. With the 26-year-old wideout joined by Saquon Barkley (22 years old), Evan Engram (24) and Sterling Shepard (25), the Giants presumably are aiming for a quick turnaround, perhaps with the help of a young quarterback. The team likely would expect multiple early draft picks -- or starting-caliber players on rookie contracts -- just as a starting point to open discussions about trading Beckham.

Ross has caught nine passes for 170 yards and three touchdowns through two games with the Arizona Hotshots in the Alliance of American Football.

Ross was released by the Cardinals in mid-August, unable to make it through the preseason with a team that had a glaring need at his position. He does have 22 NFL appearances to his name, highlighted by a 2015 season in which he scored a 71-yard receiving touchdown and a 101-yard kickoff return touchdown while playing 13 games for the Redskins. He still has a difficult path ahead of him, but the 29-year-old wide receiver is at least making his case for another NFL opportunity.