Speaking on an episode of her Scoop City podcast, Russini highlights Purdy’s participation in OTAs as “evidence” that a deal is likely coming. While that opinion is largely speculative, she goes on to add that she’s been “doing some digging on it” and feels good about the direction negotiations are heading in. It’s possible that Purdy reporting to OTAs is more a sign off good will than a signal to a deal being done, but we also saw George Kittle report to voluntary workouts shortly before he signed his new deal. Regardless, Purdy won’t go into the season on the contract he signed after being made the Mr. Irrelevant pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. In what was a down season for the 49ers in 2024, Purdy threw for 3,864-20-12 while adding a career-high 323 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He has the looks of a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 heading into the upcoming fantasy season.

Joe Burrow continues to push for his guys. After standing in the corner for Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who both signed extensions this offseason, Russini reports Burrow has remained “adamant” about Hendrickson remaining with the team and suggested a “hometown discount” could be in the works on Hendrickson’s end. The Bengals selected pass rusher Shemar Stewart in the first round of this year’s draft, which many believed would spell the end of Hendrickson’s time in Cincinnati. However, with the team appearing intent on keeping the band together in 2025 and beyond, it sounds like the chances of Hendrickson being traded are slowly dwindling.

London, who will turn 24 in July, is locked up for the 2026 season. London has been superb through his first three NFL seasons: Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase were the only other two wideouts to average more than 12 yards per catch on 100 receptions in 2024. London was third in receiving yards and seventh in receptions last season, quickly becoming a target hog with Michael Penix under center for Atlanta. London should be viewed as a top-five fantasy receiver going into 2025.

Johnson, described by DeFabo as a “physical back built to carry the load,” was taken with the 83rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He’s widely expected to replace Najee Harris — now with the Chargers — in the Pittsburgh backfield in 2025. Johnson dominated the Iowa backfield in 2024, totaling 240 carries for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns. He made progress as a pass catcher, reeling in 22 balls for 188 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the run-heavy Iowa offense. Only three running backs in the nation logged more rushes of over ten yards than Johnson in 2024. His presence, along with Kenneth Gainwell, leaves little upside for Warren barring backfield injuries for the Steelers.

“I would have trouble understanding why you would allow that to happen, you’re trying to build a new culture, you can’t let that guy ... you just got a rookie QB, this is the example you’re going to give him,” Underhill continued. Both Underhill and Mike Triplett believe Tyler Shough will be starting for the Saints in Week 1, with Underhill saying he had “80 percent or higher odds to start 80 percent of the games this year.” Shough would be an uninspiring superflex pick, perhaps a QB3, but given how things have played out with Carr over the past months, it sure doesn’t seem like the Saints have a reason to want to continue this relationship. Mickey Loomis literally asked reporters to stop asking him Carr questions at his pre-draft press conference.

If the season started tomorrow, in Kay Cabot’s estimation, the starter would be Kenny Pickett. She says that the Browns made clear to Pickett that he “could control his own destiny with a stellar performance” when they traded Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick to the Eagles. This, of course, does not mean that Sanders can’t make the Browns. Neither of the other three quarterbacks in the room have any recent NFL success to hang their hat on — the closest thing is Joe Flacco’s performance in 2023 with the Browns. But it does mean that he’s starting at the bottom of the pack.

The move will cost the Chiefs $13.6 million in 2025. It’s a no-brainer considering McDuffie has been among the league’s most reliable corners for the past few years. Pro Football Focus in 2024 graded McDuffie as the NFL’s fifth best cover corner as he had two interceptions and 13 passes defended for the solid Kansas City secondary.

Kaye said he expects McMillan, taken with the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, to primarily occupy the outside X spot and be an “immediate fixture” in Dave Canales’ offense. Xavier Legette, according to Kaye, will play the Z position while Adam Thielan occupies the slot. “Despite those immediate roles, the three players will likely get the chance to move around the formation,” Kaye added. That’s likely a positive for McMillan’s 2025 fantasy outlook after he proved one of the nation’s most efficient receivers on slot routes at Arizona in 2024. McMillan was the first wideout selected in the draft after racking up 213 receptions for 3,423 yards and 26 touchdowns in 37 games at Arizona. Bryce Young reportedly vouched for McMillan before the Panthers used their first rounder on him.

“But with the draft in the rearview,” Russini said, “expect the trade buzz to cool surrounding Pickens.” The disgruntled wideout will likely stay on the Steelers roster alongside new WR1 DK Metcalf. The Cowboys’ interest in Pickens could indicate that they’d like to bolster the team’s wideout room behind CeeDee Lamb in the coming weeks or months. Pickens, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, has led the Steelers in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and TD receptions since entering the NFL in 2022.

The deal includes $40 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. After denying a report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini that he was aiming to become the game’s highest paid tight end, Kittle signs a monster extension that eclipses Trey McBride’s recent deal. Kittle last year ranked third in tight end receiving yards and led the position in yards per route run. He has been one of the NFL’s most efficient pass catchers for years and will enter his age-32 season as an important part of a San Francisco passing attack that is now without Deebo Samuel.