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[Woodman]

PROJECTED TRADE WITH ARIZONA CARDINALS

I already touched on the utter lack of offensive firepower on New England’s current roster. Shoot, when’s the last time the Patriots had a true “X” receiver in his prime? Mitchell’s still a little rough around the edges, but he could grow into a star as Jayden Daniels’ main man on the perimeter. And in this scenario, the Pats do business with old friend Monti Ossenfort, jumping up from No. 34 and landing right in front of the receiver-needy Bills. AFC East heat!

[Woodman]

PROJECTED TRADE WITH BALTIMORE RAVENS

I don’t know what the Raiders think about the extensive injury history, but NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported last month that the combine medical exams “came out extremely positive for Penix -- no issues going forward.” One thing I do know: Penix has a serious whip of an arm. And one thing I think I know: Las Vegas won’t be able to secure his services by sitting tight at Pick No. 44.

[Woodman]

J.J. McCarthy is in New England, meeting with Patriots - NBC Sports

McCarthy is having dinner with Patriots officials tonight and visiting the team facility on Monday.
The Patriots, who draft third, appear to be headed toward drafting the third quarterback after the Bears draft Caleb Williams at No. 1 and the Commanders take a quarterback at No. 2.
New England previously hosted North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels.
McCarthy also is scheduled to meet with the Commanders this week, and he previously has visited the Giants.

[Woodman]

Kenny Clark- New defense good for us up front, we can be more disruptive - NBC Sports

Hafley was hired to replace Joe Barry after an inconsistent 2023 season for the defense in Green Bay and early indications are that it is going to be a more aggressive approach than the one they employed last year. Defensive tackle Kenny Clark said last week that “it’s going to give that mentality to just cut it loose more within the defense” and he thinks that is going to be a good fit for both him and the defense at large.

“Fiery, his energy . . . he’s going to bring it,” Clark said, via the team’s website. “He’s going to challenge everybody — challenge everybody to be great. That’s what you want as a coach. You want them to hold guys accountable. I think this scheme . . . it’ll be good for us up front. It’s going to allow us to be way more disruptive.”

The Packers had to win their last three games of the regular season in order to advance to the playoffs as a Wild Card last season. A more consistent defensive performance could give them a chance to compete for the NFC North title.

[Woodman]

As offseason program opens, Rashee Rice's status remains unclear - NBC Sports

To date, it’s still not clear whether and to what extent Rice will be present for Phase I.
The fact that the Chiefs will have a virtual Phase I makes the need for action a bit less urgent. It’s not as if he’ll be showing up at the facility, trying to carve a path through reporters shouting questions at him.
That said, if there are press availabilities from coach Andy Reid and/or select players, questions about Rice will be asked. The Chiefs surely know it, and they undoubtedly will have a plan for responding, even if it’s as simple as pointing out there’s a pending legal matter and they have no comment.

[Woodman]

Colts, DeForest Buckner agree to contract extension - NBC Sports

Buckner, who had been heading into the final year of his contract, has now agreed to a two-year, $46 million extension through the 2026 season, according to multiple reports.
Buckner had been slated to earn a $20.25 million base salary and have a cap hit of $22.75 million this year, but the new deal likely reduces his base salary and cap hit while giving him a significant signing bonus that will count toward future years’ salary caps.

[Woodman]

Aaron Rodgers arrives at start of Jets' voluntary offseason program - NBC Sports

Rodgers was there first thing this morning for the first day of work, the Jets confirmed on social media.

Last year Rodgers didn’t attend all the Jets’ voluntary work, but he did vow to be there for “more than half” of it. Toward the end of his tenure in Green Bay, Rodgers chose not to participate in voluntary offseason work, which reportedly was one of the reasons he and the front office and coaching staff weren’t on great terms before he was traded to the Jets.

Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles tendon on the fourth play of the 2023 season but expects to be fully healthy for 2024.

[Woodman]

Jaelan Phillips- Rehab going great, definitely back healthy for the season - NBC Sports

Phillips was injured during the team’s Black Friday win over the Jets and he took a break from his rehabilitation work to attend the University of Miami’s spring game over the weekend. Phillips did an interview with ESPN during the game and said that he’s on track to be back on the field come the fall.

“Rehab has been going great,” Phillips said, via Adam Stites of USAToday.com. “I’m just attacking it every day and I’ll definitely be back healthy for the season and — God willing — stay healthy for the season.”

The Dolphins also have Bradley Chubb returning from a torn ACL and they recently signed Shaq Barrett to provide them with more depth as they wait for both players to make a full recovery from their injuries.

[Woodman]

Brock Bowers visiting Jets Monday

[Woodman]

Davante Adams- If I wanted to be gone, I’d be gone by now

[Woodman]

Jets unveil new uniforms - NBC Sports

The Jets kicked off their offseason program on Monday and they also unveiled the uniforms they’ll be wearing this season.
Jets owner Woody Johnson announced on Super Bowl Sunday that the team would be changing their look for the coming year and the team shared what that look will be on their website. The team is calling the new duds their “Legacy Collection” as they are a return to what the team wore during the 1980s and they sported the throwback jerseys and helmets during a couple of games during the 2023 season.

[Woodman]

CeeDee Lamb is not at Cowboys voluntary workouts - NBC Sports

Lamb is in the market for a new contract and the expectation all offseason has been that he would skip the voluntary portion of the team’s work while he waits for a new pact to come together. Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported on Monday that Lamb’s absence has gone from expected to actual.

The next question for Lamb, who is entering the fifth and final season of his rookie contract, will be whether he decides to hold himself out of mandatory work as well. The Cowboys will have a mandatory minicamp in early June and it will be interesting to see how the wideout approaches that session if he and the Cowboys are still at an impasse on the contract front.

[Woodman]

Devonta Smith agrees to three-year extension with Eagles - NBC Sports

Smith’s 2025 salary will be $15.591 million and Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the extension is worth $75 million. That total includes $51 million in guaranteed money.

The Eagles have also extended the contracts of guard Landon Dickerson and tackle Jordan Mailata this offseason, so they have secured extended runs with several key offensive players as they head toward the 2024 season.

[Woodman]

Maxx Crosby- I’m feeling better than I ever have

[Woodman]

J.J. McCarthy completes pre-draft visits with a trip to Washington

[Woodman]

Inside the DeVonta Smith deal

A first-round pick in 2021, Smith gets his second contract before the likes of 2020 first-rounders Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, and Brandon Aiyuk, and 2021 first-rounder Ja’Marr Chase.
Here’s a look at the details of the Smith deal, along with some analysis. First, the numbers. Per a source with knowledge of the terms:
1. Signing bonus: $20,351,554.
2. 2024 base salary: $1.055 million, fully guaranteed.

[Woodman]

Patriots visit with Michael Penix Jr.

NFL Media reports that Michael Penix Jr. will dine with team officials on Monday night, in advance of a formal visit on Tuesday.
Penix follows J.J. McCarthy, who visited with the Patriots on Monday. Previously, quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye visited New England.
The Patriots last took a quarterback in the top five 31 years ago, when Drew Bledsoe was the first overall pick. Before that, it was Jim Plunkett in 1971 and Jack Concannon in the 1964 AFL draft.
They’ve used a first-round pick two other times, on Tony Eason in 1983 and Mac Jones in 2021. Both were taken fifteenth overall.

[Woodman]

Giants CB Nick McCloud signs tender - NBC Sports

McCloud was one of only seven restricted free agents in the league to receive a tender, which is worth a non-guaranteed $2.9 million for 2024.
McCloud, 25, played all 17 games with three starts last season. He totaled 28 tackles, an interception and three pass breakups, while playing 312 defensive snaps and 347 on special teams.

[Woodman]

Trent Taylor returns to 49ers on one-year deal

[Woodman]

Illinois DT Johnny Newton draws a big crowd to his Pro Day