Tag: WR

Miami Dolphins expected to pick up Jaylen Waddle’s fifth-year option

Former Alabama wide receiver and Miami Dolphins star is expected to have his fifth-year option picked up.

Former Alabama Crimson Tide football wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was the sixth overall selection in the 2021 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins. Pairing him with his former college quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has proven to be a very smart move. Now, Waddle is expected to have his fifth-year option picked up by the Dolphins.

Waddle broke the NFL record for most receptions by a receiver in his rookie season. Since then, star receiver Tyreek Hill has joined the team, which led to Waddle’s role on the offense shrinking some. However, that has not prevented him from being a valuable member of the team’s receiving corps.

In 2023, Waddle reeled in 72 passes on 104 targets for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns. He and Hill are often considered to be one of the strongest receiving duos in the entire league.

Miami’s general manager, Chris Grier, shared with reporters that the franchise plans on picking up his fifth-year option before the upcoming deadline to do so.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to cover Waddle and other former Alabama players in the NFL as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles agree to contract extension

WR DeVonta Smith and the Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to terms on a three-year extension. The former Alabama receiver gets PAID.

Former Alabama Crimson Tide football wide receiver DeVonta Smith has received a hefty contract extension from the Philadelphia Eagles, according to NFL network insider Ian Rapoport. Smith’s new deal is worth $75 million over three seasons.

Smith was a star player for the Crimson Tide during his time in Tuscaloosa, and finished his collegiate career with a national championship and a Heisman Trophy, a rare instance where a wide receiver won the coveted award.

After being selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft by the Eagles, Smith immediately became a valuable offensive weapon for the franchise. Through three seasons, he has a per-season average of 80 receptions for 1,060 yards and six touchdowns.

His time in the NFL is just getting started, and the front office in Philadelphia wanted to make sure he stays a member of the Eagles.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Smith and other former Alabama players in the NFL as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Alabama lands in top 3 for elite, 2025 4-star WR Quanell X Farrakhan Jr.

Alabama is one of three schools that were listed as a finalist to land the talented 2025 four-star wide receiver.

The Alabama football program has already gotten off to a hot start in the 2025 recruiting cycle. Thus far, the Crimson Tide have landed eight commitments. With plenty more to come, Alabama received some good news on Sunday afternoon. Recently, four-star wide receiver Quanell X Farrakhan Jr. listed Alabama in his top three alongside the Texas A&M Aggies and Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Farrakhan Jr. took an unofficial visit to Alabama several weekends ago. He has been on the Crimson Tide’s radar since the new coaching staff was put in place. The Texas native is highly-regarded and rightfully so. During his junior season, Farrakhan Jr. reeled in 52 receptions for 820 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Alabama is right in the thick of things to land Farrakhan Jr. It would not come as much of a surprise to see Farrkhan Jr. end up in Alabama’s 2025 recruiting class. There is certainly mutual interest between him and the Alabama coaching staff.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding the Alabama football program and its efforts on the recruiting trail.

2024 NFL draft: 7 most realistic options for the Ravens in the first round

We’re looking at the seven most realistic 2024 NFL Draft options for the Baltimore Ravens in the first round

With the first wave of NFL free agency over, all eyes around the league will turn toward pro days and one final month-long push toward April’s NFL draft.

Baltimore has needs, but after a solid start to the free agency process, the first-round pick (No. 30) could be about nagging the best player available or a potential building block in the trenches.

Mock draft season is in full swing, and most draft experts and pundits will likely simulate 100s scenarios for all seven rounds, with realistic options starting to take shape.

With Top 30 visits increasing, we’re looking at the seven most realistic options for Baltimore at pick No. 30.

Cleveland Browns, Jerry Jeudy agree to contract extension

Jerry Jeudy and the Cleveland Browns have agreed to a large contract extension following his trade from the Denver Broncos.

Former Alabama standout wide receiver was selected No. 15 overall in the 2020 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos. Though he was a star at the collegiate level, the former Biletnikoff Award recipient had been relatively quiet in his first four seasons.

His lackluster numbers could be credited to inconsistent quarterback play. However, many still believe the young receiver has what it takes to be an elite pass-catcher in the league.

The Cleveland Browns front office is a believer. Roughly a week ago, the Browns sent a 2024 fifth and six-round picks to the Broncos to acquire Jeudy. Now, Cleveland has him under contract for the next three years thanks to an agreed-to contract extension.

The extension, reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, is for three years and is worth up to $58 million with $41 million being fully guaranteed.

Jeudy has yet to eclipse 1,000 yards in a single season, but came close in 2022. In that season, he reeled in 67 receptions for 972 yards and a career-high six touchdowns.

Now, he gets paired with quarterback Deshaun Watson, who Cleveland traded for ahead of the 2023 season, but had been sidelined for most of the season with an injury. The goal is to have Jeudy, and fellow former Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper, be a dangerous duo while catching passes from Watson.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow former Alabama players in the NFL as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Caleb Odom’s move from TE to WR has been smooth

Incoming freshman Caleb Odom was a four-star TE prospect, but has since swapped to being a WR at Alabama.

The new coaching staff will present plenty of changes on both sides of the ball, one of those changes includes taking former four-star tight end prospect Caleb Odom and turning him into a wide receiver.

Odom, a Georgia native, joined the Crimson Tide as a member of the 2024 recruiting class and is now working with new head coach Kalen DeBoer and his staff to prepare for the upcoming season.

At 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, Odom toughly has the size of a freshman tight end, but the coaching staff believes he would be best utilized as a wide receiver.

Fellow receiver Kendrick Law told media members today that Odom is elite at the position and is easily the biggest player at the position on the roster.

Additionally, Tide wide receiver coach JaMarcus Shephard had high praise for Odom, stating that he’s been like a sponge while learning the position. Shephard also noted that his size will play an important factor on the field while trying to come down with contested passes.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

1 pending free agent the Eagles could target from each NFC team

We’re looking at one pending free agent from each NFC team that the Philadelphia Eagles could target

Free agency is about two weeks away, and the Philadelphia Eagles have several players set to hit the open market. General manager Howie Roseman has to make critical decisions to fill roster holes.

While Roseman will likely look to the free agent market for answers, several in-house free agents are candidates to sign an extension ahead of free agency.

The Birds are set to have 20 pending free agents, and with another likely retool schedule on defense, the organization could conjure up a scheme for more flexibility.

According to Over the Cap’s potential transaction chart, the Eagles can easily create $35.4 million in cap space by making these five moves.

With the new league year fast approaching, we’re looking at one pending free agent from each NFC team that could interest Philadelphia.

Alabama receives Crystal Ball projection for WR Ryan Williams

Star wide receiver prospect Ryan Williams recently canceled a visit to Texas, and one expert thinks he’s leaning toward Alabama.

New Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer can make a huge statement on the recruiting trail if he’s able to land one of the most talented players in the 2024 class, wide receiver Ryan Williams.

Williams, a native of Alabama, was at one point committed to the Crimson Tide. However, he chose to re-open his recruitment after Nick Saban announced his retirement. Other programs pursuing Williams include Auburn, Texas, LSU and others.

Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports recently entered a Crystal Ball projection for Williams to land at Alabama. Others, however, have input predictions favoring Auburn.

Recently, Williams was expected to visit Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns. However, the visit was reportedly canceled, according to On3‘s Hunter Shelton (subscription required).

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

LOOK: Social media reacts to Julio Jones signing with Philadelphia Eagles

Fans were quick to react to the news of the Philadelphia Eagles signing Julio Jones

The defending NFC champions got a little be stronger today, as the Philadelphia Eagles signed former Alabama star wide receiver, Julio Jones.

Jones entered the league in 2011, when he was selected No. 6 overall by the Atlanta Falcons. After a decade-long career in Atlanta, Jones spent one season in Tennessee and some time with Tampa Bay. Now, he joins Philadelphia.

The Eagles are no strangers to drafting and signing former Alabama players. Quarterback Jalen Hurts, wide receiver DeVonta Smith and offensive lineman Landon Dickerson are just a few former members of the Crimson Tide on the roster.

Fans were quick to take to social media and share their thoughts and reactions to the signing.

Don’t expect Packers to trade for a wide receiver before deadline

Don’t expect the Packers to make a trade for a receiver (Jerry Jeudy?) before the deadline.

While Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur will spend the bye week trying to figure out how to fix the offense, one ESPN analyst suggests that the team trade for a veteran wide receiver.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed 15 hypothetical trades on Tuesday, and one of them involved the Packers swapping receivers and draft picks with a struggling Denver Broncos team. 

Here is the proposed trade. 

Green Bay receives:

WR Jerry Jeudy, 2024 fourth-round pick

Denver receives:

WR Romeo Doubs, 2024 second-round pick

Multiple reports have suggested that the Broncos might be sellers leading up to the NFL trade deadline on Oct. 31. Last week, they traded away defensive end Randy Gregory and could do the same with defensive end Frank Clark. Jeudy has also been included in trade discussions, according to NFL insider Matt Lombardo of FanBuzz. 

However, this trade doesn’t make a ton of sense for the Packers. With one more game under his belt, Doubs is out-producing Jeudy in 2023 and is starting to develop into a solid receiver in his second season. He is currently leading the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Green Bay would also have to give up a second-round pick, while Denver is sending back a Day 3 pick and a former first-round pick who is having a quiet start to his fourth season. The Packers would also have to take on Jeudy’s contract, which includes guarantees just shy of $13 million in 2024 as part of his fifth-year option. 

Any Packers fans hoping that the team will trade for a pass catcher should temper their expectations. In the past, Green Bay has been connected to multiple receivers ahead of the trade deadline but has yet to follow through. Right now, there’s nothing to suggest that this year will be any different. 

When asked about adding a veteran wide receiver before training camp, general manager Brian Gutekunst said they were excited about their group of young pass catchers and suggested they didn’t want anyone getting in the way of their development.   

Through the first five weeks of the season, the wide receivers and tight ends have experienced plenty of growing pains, but that was to be expected given their inexperience. 

“We all knew there were going to be some growing pains along the way, but I haven’t lost faith or belief in the group that we have,” LaFleur said Tuesday. “I just think we can do things better. I think we can coach better, and I think we can execute better.”

The Packers (2-3) will head into the break needing to find ways to make their passing game more consistent. However, the answers will likely have to come internally rather than turning to a player on another team.