Category: Free Agency

Ex-Falcons QB Logan Woodside signs with Cincinnati Bengals

Ex-Falcons quarterback Logan Woodside has signed with the Cincinnati Bengals

The Atlanta Falcons signed quarterback Matt Ryan to a one-year deal on Monday, allowing him to retire with the team that drafted him 16 years ago. In other Falcons quarterback news, Logan Woodside signed a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday.

Woodside, 29, signed with the team in 2022 before serving as Atlanta’s emergency third QB last season. He appeared in just two games but never threw a pass in the regular season. Woodside, a seventh-round pick by the Bengals back in 2018, now returns to the team that drafted him.

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The Falcons are expected to add a quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft to serve as a developmental option behind Kirk Cousins and Taylor Heinicke. Last year’s starter, Desmond Ridder, was traded from the Falcons to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for wide receiver Rondale Moore.

Atlanta has the No. 8 pick in this week’s draft and while we don’t expect the team to take a QB in Round 1, it’s impossible to rule out. The Falcons sent a group to watch Washington QB Michael Penix. work out in Seattle. Plus, the team met with Spencer Rattler, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy.

The 2024 NFL draft kicks off on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.

Pistons Rumors: Trades, NBA Draft, free agency, Monty Williams, Cade Cunningham, Troy Weaver

A look at potential Detroit Pistons trade and free agent targets, options at the NBA Draft, the futures of Monty Williams and Troy Weaver, and if Cade Cunningham will get a max extension with HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and The Athletic’s James Edwards on The HoopsHype Podcast.

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and The Athletic’s Detroit Pistons beat writer James Edwards discuss potential Pistons trade and free agent targets, options at the NBA Draft, the futures of Monty Williams and Troy Weaver, and if Cade Cunningham will get a max extension on the latest episode of The HoopsHype Podcast.

For more interviews with players, coaches, and media members, be sure to like and subscribe to the HoopsHype podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Listen to the podcast above or check out some snippets of the conversation in a transcribed version below.

Former Panthers WR DJ Chark reportedly visits Chargers

The Chargers are reportedly trying to zero in on yet another former Panther.

Bradley Bozeman and Hayden Hurst might have themselves from familiar company out west pretty soon.

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, wideout DJ Chark visited the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday. The former Pro Bowler spent the 2023 campaign as a member of the Carolina Panthers.

Prior to landing in the Queen City for a year, Chark spent four of his NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A second-round pick from the 2018 draft, the Louisiana State University product went on to amass 147 receptions for 2,042 yards and 15 touchdowns over 43 games in Duval.

Chark then signed on with the Detroit Lions in 2022. His lone season there resulted in just 11 outings, in which he caught 30 balls for 502 yards and three scores.

The Panthers reeled in Chark last March, to the tune of a one-year, $5 million pact. He appeared in 15 games for Carolina—totaling 11 starts, 35 catches, 66 targets, 525 receiving yards (second-most on the team) and five touchdowns.

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Austin Reaves Q&A: Lakers travel stories, D’Angelo Russell’s free agency, LeBron James’ future, Anthony Davis, Nuggets rematch

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves discussed how he travels privately during the offseason by booking hotels and flights, a wild travel story with the Lakers in Portland, what happens on the team flight after games, the possibility of being a Laker for life, D’Angelo Russell’s free agency, what he’s learned from LeBron James, why Anthony Davis should be in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation, and the chip on the team’s shoulder going up against the Denver Nuggets in a playoff rematch with HoopsHype Senior NBA Insider Michael Scotto.

On his path from an undrafted rookie to stardom with the Los Angeles Lakers, Austin Reaves has had many memorable moments in hotels, including a life-changing call to play in the NBA while in El Segundo, California, and avoiding a fire while playing for the Lakers at a Portland hotel.

“I was in there for probably two months and got a call from my agent (Aaron Reilly), and it was them offering me a regular contract that, for me, was the start of my journey, so the Residence Inn always has a special place in my heart,” Reaves said during a Hotels.com “Perfect 10” digital content segment.

Following his segment, Reaves spoke with HoopsHype and discussed how he travels privately during the offseason when booking hotels and flights, a wild travel story with the Lakers in Portland, what happens on the team flight after games, the possibility of being a Laker for life, D’Angelo Russell’s free agency, what he’s learned from LeBron James, why Anthony Davis should be in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation, and the chip on the team’s shoulder going up against the Denver Nuggets in a playoff rematch.

Panthers ‘leaving the door open’ for free-agent CB Stephon Gilmore

Panthers GM Dan Morgan is leaving the door open on a potential return for CB Stephon Gilmore.

A homecoming for Stephon Gilmore may still be in the plans for the Carolina Panthers.

President of football operations/general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales held their pre-draft press conference on Thursday afternoon. During the chat, Morgan was asked if bringing back the free-agent corner is still on the table.

“Yeah, we’re gonna leave the door open there,” Morgan replied. “We’re still gonna stay in communication and after the draft, we’ll circle back and kinda see where it goes from there.”

Talks of a return for the 33-year-old Gilmore, who played for the Panthers in 2021, really revved up with the signing of fellow Rock Hill, S.C. native Jadeveon Clowney. The outside linebacker told reporters a few weeks ago that he’s been in contact with his old high school teammate, and that Gilmore is hoping that the Panthers will sign up for his services once again.

Since his Pro Bowl campaign for Carolina two seasons ago, Gilmore has suited up for the Indianapolis Colts and the Dallas Cowboys.

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Nets Rumors: Donovan Mitchell, Ben Simmons, Cam Thomas, Nic Claxton, Jordi Fernandez

Reporting on how the Brooklyn Nets agreed to hire Jordi Fernandez as their next head coach, what’s next for Nic Claxton in free agency, potential extension talks for Mikal Bridges and Cam Thomas, the future for Ben Simmons, and why Donovan Mitchell is a likely trade target with New York Post writer Brian Lewis and HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto on the latest episode of The HoopsHype Podcast.

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and New York Post Brooklyn Nets beat writer Brian Lewis report on how the team agreed to hire Jordi Fernandez as their next head coach, what’s next for Nic Claxton in free agency, potential extension talks for Mikal Bridges and Cam Thomas, the future for Ben Simmons, and why Donovan Mitchell is a likely trade target on the latest episode of The HoopsHype Podcast.

For more interviews with players, coaches, and media members, be sure to like and subscribe to the HoopsHype podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Listen to the podcast above or check out some snippets of the conversation in a transcribed version below.

Seahawks hosted free agent RB Rashaad Penny for a visit

According to a report by Howard Balzer, Seattle reported a visit with former running back Rashaad Penny.

The Seahawks are mostly set at the running back position heading into the 2024 NFL draft. It’s unlikely we will see the team pick one, as they’ve aready invested two second-round picks at that spot in the last two drafts and this is a pretty weak class at running back. If they are going to replace DeeJay Dallas, odds are they will sign a veteran. They might have their eye on a familiar one, too.

According to a report by Howard Balzer, Seattle reported a visit with former running back Rashaad Penny.

A first-round pick by the Seahawks back in 2018, Penny has been one of the game’s most boom-or-bust playmakers ever since. With the exception of a sensational run at the end of the 2021 season and a strong start to 2022, Penny has mostly not been able to stay healthy and live up to his potential at this level.

Last season Penny signed with the Eagles where we thought he might thrive in their strong run game. However, he never really worked his way into their rotation and wound up only playing three games, totaling just 33 yards on the ground on 11 carries.

If Penny signs he might project as the fourth running back on the depth chart beneath Ken Walker, Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh.

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Former Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins to sign a 1-year deal with the Chargers

Weeks after signing Gus Edwards, Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers are signing former Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins to a one-year deal

Greg Roman is getting the band back together; this time, it’ll be former Ravens central in Los Angeles, as the Chargers are signing former Baltimore and Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins.

Weeks after signing Gus Edwards to a deal, Jim Harbaugh’s new team is adding Dobbins on a one-year contract.

Dobbins was cleared for football activities in mid-March following rehab for a torn Achilles.

Since entering the NFL in 2020 as the Ravens’ second-round pick, Dobbins has averaged 5.8 yards per carry and scored 13 touchdowns.

Still, the talented running back has only appeared in 24 games since entering the NFL.

In Jim Harbaugh’s run-heavy offensive approach, Dobbins will be the lightening to Edwards’s Thunder as the Chargers work to make the offense more efficient around star quarterback Justin Herbert.

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Panthers’ addition of Jadeveon Clowney named amongst 2024’s worst FA signings

Will the Panthers’ signing of Jadeveon Clowney end up being a dud? One NFL analyst believes it very well could.

Well, not everyone is breaking out the balloons for Jadeveon Clowney’s homecoming.

Bleacher Report analyst Ryan Fowler recently rattled off what he believes to be the 14 worst signings from free agency. Included in the bunch is the Carolina Panthers’ addition of the Rock Hill native in Clowney, who Fowler thinks may disappear at times:

There’s a ton of boom or bust coiled up in the frame of Jadeveon Clowney.

At times, he can completely overwhelm opposing linemen. Other times, he disappears for weeks on end.

While you could say Clowney is playing the best football of his career with 11 sacks in two of his last three campaigns, he’ll take on a new role in Carolina where he’s expected to lead a youth-infused group of pass-rushers behind him, something he’s never done in his prior five stops.

Although his deal won’t break the bank, Clowney, 31, could end performing like a long-in-the-tooth pass-rusher.

The 31-year-old is fresh off one of the best campaigns of his NFL run. While suiting up for the Baltimore Ravens, Clowney recorded career-highs in sacks (9.5) and pressures (71).

He’s on with a two-year, $20 million deal that could be worth up to $24 million.

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Another free agent offensive lineman visited the Seahawks this week

According to a report by Adam Schefter at ESPN, former Colts and Bills guard Ike Boettger visited the team on Monday.

The Seahawks have been very busy the last couple of weeks bringing in free agent offensive linemen for visits. Yesterday the team added former Rams and Lions tackle Max Pircher. Meanwhile, veterans Greg Van Roten, Lucas Patrick, Laken Tomlinson and Cody Whitehair have all been connected with Seattle. Now we have another potential signing to pass along.

According to a report by Adam Schefter at ESPN, former Colts and Bills guard Ike Boettger visited the team on Monday.

Boettger (6-foot-6, 313 pounds) played his college ball at Iowa and then went undrafted. Buffalo originally signed him in 2018 and he played tackle as a backup his first couple seasons there. Boettger switched to left guard in 2020, earning 17 starts over the next two years. All together he played five seasons for the Bills then spent last year with the Colts.

If Seattle does sign him, Boettger would likely project as a left guard, where at the moment he wouldn’t have any competition to start.

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