NFL | No. 14 pick Lotulelei signs rookie contract

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No. 14 pick Lotulelei signs rookie contract

Panthers agreed to terms with No. 14 overall pick DT Star Lotulelei on a four-year contract.

Bandied about as a potential top-five pick before the draft, Lotulelei tumbled to the Panthers at No. 14, where he fills a massive need. A poor-man's Haloti Ngata, Lotulelei is going to stuff running lanes, but may not rush the quarterback like Ngata has. The Panthers will count on Lotulelei and his 6-foot-2, 311-pound frame to occupy multiple blockers. An absolute workhorse in college — he played nearly every defensive snap as a senior — Lotulelei has the potential to make an impact from day one on an underrated young front seven.

Wed, May 22, 2013 04:26:00 PM

Fred Jackson could lose snaps to Brown/Dixon

WGR 550 Buffalo's Joe Buscaglia suggests Fred Jackson could lose snaps this season to Bryce Brown and Anthony Dixon.

We see Dixon more as a special teamer, but the Bills gave up significant compensation for Brown (a conditional fourth-round pick that could improve to a third-rounder), and will probably want to carve out a role for him. While Jackson should remain heavily involved due to his pass-protection prowess, his touches are a virtual lock to sink. Jackson will be 33 1/2 years old in Week 1.

Source: WGR 550 Buffalo

Jul 11 - 4:19 PM

Boykin expected to be Packers No. 3 receiver

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel believes Jarrett Boykin will be "hard to dislodge" from his No. 3 receiver role on the Packers.

Assuming he holds off second-round pick Davante Adams -- who struggled with drops during OTAs -- Boykin's outlook is particularly intriguing due to Green Bay's lack of an established pass-catching tight end. He could easily be Aaron Rodgers' No. 3 pass option this year, behind Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. Boykin has a chance to be a re-draft-league steal. His ADP is the late-11th round.

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Jul 11 - 3:29 PM

Colts to put Trent Richardson on short leash?

ESPN Colts reporter Mike Wells believes Trent Richardson will not be given a long leash by the team if he doesn't produce quickly this season.

Wells calls it "unlikely" the Colts would "wait for him to get going" if Ahmad Bradshaw and Vick Ballard show well early, either in training camp, the preseason, or regular season games. With two weeks before camp opens, T-Rich's fantasy Average Draft Position has settled into the middle of round five. He's going ahead of Ben Tate, Joique Bell, Stevan Ridley, and Steven Jackson.

Source: ESPN.com

Jul 11 - 3:20 PM

Colts cut WR Brazill after latest suspension

Colts waived WR LaVon Brazill.

A sixth-round pick in the 2012 draft, Brazill flashed on the field during two seasons with the Colts, but was suspended twice, including a full-year ban for violating the league's substance abuse policy in early July. He won't be eligible to play this season, even in the unlikely event he's claimed on waivers. Brazill, 25, has 23 catches for 347 yards (15.1 YPR) and three touchdowns through 25 NFL appearances. He scored two TDs in Indy's January playoff loss to the Patriots.

Jul 11 - 2:58 PM

NFL execs split on Andre Johnson trade value

After speaking to four NFL executives regarding potential trade compensation for Andre Johnson, the Sideline View's Lance Zierlein received answers ranging from a second- to fifth-round pick.

Although the Houston Chronicle's John McClain has been adamant the Texans will not trade Johnson, it's worth remembering McClain was adamant for most of the pre-draft process that the Texans would not select Jadeveon Clowney at No. 1 overall. (They did.) We suspect GM Rick Smith would seriously consider dealing Johnson if a win-now team offered a 2015 second-round pick. If the offer were a fourth- or fifth-rounder, the Texans should comfortably pass.

Source: Lance Zierlein on Twitter

Jul 11 - 1:51 PM

Report: Andre Johnson 'will not be traded'

The Houston Chronicle reports Andre Johnson "will not be traded."

Beat writer John McClain is plugged in to all things Texans. He believes the team wants Johnson to finish his career in Houston, and they don't want to deal Johnson simply because he wants out, which would set a precedent for similar situations if they developed in the future. Another big factor is money. The Texans would eat $12 million by trading Johnson, and the acquiring team would take on his roughly $16 million cap hit. McClain expects Johnson to either play for the Texans in Week 1, or sit out and forfeit over $500,000 per week.

Source: Houston Chronicle

Jul 11 - 9:56 AM

Andre Johnson informs Texans he wants out

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Andre Johnson has told the Texans "he wants to play for another team."

Rapoport added four teams have expressed interest in the veteran wide receiver, but Houston is resisting the move. It is unsurprising Johnson wants a trade. Entering his age-33 season, Johnson does not have time to wait through yet another rebuilding job. He is also unhappy the Texans refused a deal that would have paid him his $1 million workout bonus despite the fact that he missed several sessions. Even with the animosity, it is not a certainty Johnson leaves Houston. Rapoport believes the Texans could remedy the situation by paying Johnson his $1 million or promising him a roster spot in 2015. This has the look of a saga that could drag into camp.

Source: NFL.com

Jul 10 - 12:01 PM

Jermichael Finley still wants to return to GB

Free agent Jermichael Finley (neck) says he still "very much wants to return to the Packers."

"This is the best I've felt in this entire crazy process," Finley said. "I'm working as hard as I can to get back to Packer Nation." Finley continues to work out in hopes of gaining medical clearance. Recent reports suggest the Packers haven't closed the door on a reunion. Our best guess is they want to see what they have at tight end in training camp before taking a flier on an injury risk like Finley.

Source: Jason Wilde on Twitter

Jul 9 - 3:06 PM

Dobson 'optimistic' he'll be ready for camp

Aaron Dobson (foot surgery) confirms he's "optimistic" he'll be ready for training camp.

Dobson sat out the Patriots' entire offseason program, but is finally progressing. "It’s doing better, man," Dobson said Tuesday. "It’s getting better every day. Every week it’s getting better, so we’re just going to see where it’s at by the time camp starts." This being the Patriots, the only real updates we're going to get on Dobson is whether or not he's practicing, but his foot doesn't appear to be a long-term question mark.

Source: Boston Herald

Jul 9 - 9:53 AM

Ravens plan to use Pitta all over formation

Dennis Pitta is expected to be used all over the field in new OC Gary Kubiak's system.

"I have done a lot of different things in this offense already," Pitta said during minicamp. "I would assume that would continue to increase. ... Hopefully, I can get in a position where I can play a variety of positions." Per reporter Aaron Wilson, Pitta will occasionally split out as an extra receiver, and could even take snaps out of the backfield. A two-tight end maestro, Kubiak can be trusted to get Pitta oodles of targets despite the presence of Owen Daniels. Pitta is in strong position to bounce back from his lost 2013.

Source: Baltimore Sun

Jul 9 - 8:06 AM

Kyle Rudolph watching Cameron/Novacek tape

Kyle Rudolph has spent "a lot of time" this offseason watching game tape of Jordan Cameron, who broke out last year under new Vikings OC Norv Turner.

Rudolph has also watched cutups of Jay Novacek, Turner's tight end with the Cowboys. Turner will run the same scheme in Minnesota. "So much of it is the exact same thing (Turner)'s been running for 20 years," noted Rudolph. "It's the same plays." Randy McMichael and Antonio Gates also enjoyed career-best years on Norv's watch. Rudolph could be a bargain at his ninth-round ADP.

Source: USA Today

Jul 8 - 2:37 PM