The latest
Patrick Mahomes’ half-brother Graham Walker transfers to Rice as the WR eyes an NFL future | Sportskeeda
Walker is the third son of Patrick Mahomes Sr. Walker studied philosophy at Brown University, balancing academics with his commitment to football. As he set his sights on the NFL, his father expressed confidence in his dedication.
“He has to do his part, he has to work hard,” Mahomes Sr. told FOX4’s Carey Wickersham. “He’s got a big year coming up, so hopefully he’s able to go out and do the things he needs to do to fulfill a dream that he’s dreamt about for a long time.”
Chiefs veteran DL Isaiah Buggs accused of animal cruelty in Alabama, per report | CBS Sports
On March 28, police received information of dogs being left on the back porch of a home that was being rented by Buggs, who according to witnesses moved out of the home on March 19 due to owing over $3,100 in back rent.
Upon arriving at the home, the City of Tuscaloosa’s Animal Control officers found a grey and white pitbull on the screened-in back porch without access to food or water. They also found a black Rottweiler mix locked in a metal cage in direct sunlight without access to food or water. A neighbor told police that the dogs had been left on the back porch for at least 10 days.
Gathings responds…
Breaking down the NFL’s fastest players, including Tyreek Hill handing over the unofficial title to a rookie | CBS Sports
The NFL has a new fastest player. Xavier Worthy, the Kansas City Chiefs’ first-round pick, has garnered the top spot on a list of the NFL’s 25 fastest players entering the 2024 season. Worthy is ranked just ahead of Dolphins speedster and former Kansas City wideout Tyreek Hill, who has four years held the unofficial title as the league’s fastest player.
Every NFL Team’s Most Exciting 2024 Undrafted Free-Agent Addition | Bleacher Report
Kansas City Chiefs: LB Curtis Jacobs
The Kansas City Chiefs might have something that fits well with undrafted linebacker Curtis Jacobs.
“Jacobs has the potential to be a solid coverage linebacker in the NFL,” Holder wrote. “He’s a good athlete and has shown the ability to cover tight ends in man coverage. He also has good awareness in zone coverage to make him scheme-flexible. Slow run-pass transitions against play action and a lack of ball production are his biggest issues in this area of the game.”
The 6’1”, 240-pound linebacker is fluid and explosive, but he can be a hindrance against the run. Still, he can be developed similarly to when the Chiefs drafted Willie Gay, who signed with the New Orleans Saints in free agency.
White House staffers hoping Taylor Swift joins Chiefs when they visit on Friday | The Kansas City Star
“That’s a good question. I think the Swifties behind these double doors are hoping that Taylor Swift makes an appearance. I don’t have anything for you,” Jean-Pierre said with a laugh. “I don’t know. I can’t speak to her schedule, but I know there’s a lot of interest in this building and on campus.”
Swift is playing Eras Tour shows on Wednesday and Thursday in Madrid, then will be off until Sunday. So theoretically, she could jet to D.C. to join Kelce and the team, but it would be a quick trip.
Michael Lombardi: Can the Kansas City Chiefs Three-peat? | VSiN
For a two-time champion, the Chiefs have many questions to solve as the season begins. And they will need luck to be standing alone on top of the mountain at the conclusion of the 2024 season for them to become the first three-peat champion. As good as the Chiefs have been, and as great as Mahomes plays, I am not tempting history. There is a reason for no three-peats, and the 2024 version of the Chiefs haven’t given me any persuasive evidence to alter history.
Steelers Sign Former Chiefs TE | All Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing former Kansas City Chiefs tight end and Super Bowl champion Izaiah Gathings, according to KPCR2’s Aaron Wilson.
Gathings worked out for the Steelers after Week 1 of Organized Team Activities and signed shortly after. He’ll join Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward, Rodney Williams and MyCole Pruitt in the Pittsburgh tight end room.
Ravens’ Mark Andrews confirms a suspicion about the AFC Championship game against the Chiefs | AtoZ Sports
“There were still some things I was probably battling through that time of year. [I] obviously wasn’t full 100% in [the AFC Championship], but I worked really hard to get to that point, and it set me up for a really good offseason to work hard,” Andrews explained to the media during AN OTA session on Tuesday. “I’ve been running a ton of routes – non-stop routes – with my family, working out. I feel really good right now. I feel fast [and] explosive. But, I think it set me up for a really good offseason.”
Around the NFL
Why NFL Coaches and Front-Office Staff Hate the Proposed Offseason Overhaul | Sports Illustrated
Your family is going to feel all of it. Then, from January (February, if you go deep in the playoffs) into June, you still work a lot of hours, though you mostly get your weekends back.
But there’s always been the one respite in there, and that’s that the league mostly shuts down from mid-June until mid-July. It marries up with the end of school, and it’s always been when guys can actually unplug and recharge for the seven-day, round-the-clock schedule that gets going right after the summer break. It’s why pretty much everyone working in the NFL has their anniversaries and even some kids’ birthdays in that window.
Now, imagine they tell you that offseason programs are going to start in mid-June. Those may be optional for the players. But the reality is it’s really not optional for more than 90% of players in the league, and the coaches, front-office people, trainers, strength staff, and pretty much everyone else in football ops have to be there. So now, all those people are working through free agency, into the draft … and where’s the break?
Texans, WR Nico Collins agree to 3-year, $72.75M extension | ESPN
The Houston Texans and wide receiver Nico Collins have agreed to a three-year, $72.75 million extension that includes $52 million guaranteed, agents Drew Rosenhaus, Ryan Matha and Jason Rosenhaus told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday.
The contract has a maximum value of $75 million.
Collins, 25, is coming off a career-best season in which he had 80 receptions (ranked 23rd in the NFL last season) for 1,297 yards (ranked 8th) and eight touchdowns (tied for 8th) in 15 games.
49ers sign WR Jauan Jennings to extension amid backdrop of Brandon Aiyuik negotiations | Yahoo! Sports
The 49ers announced on Wednesday that they’ve signed Jauan Jennings to an extension to his rookie contract through the 2025 season. Per multiple reports, the deal is worth a guaranteed $10.5 million over the next two seasons and carries a maximum value of $15.4 million.
Bears, Eagles, Steelers among nine most improved teams ahead of 2024 NFL season | NFL.com
No. 3 – New York Jets
It was a humbling season for the Jets in 2023. They probably didn’t figure they’d be making substantial roster moves to improve their championship chances at this time last year, not after quarterback Aaron Rodgers arrived in a trade with Green Bay. Now here they sit, after a frustrating season that basically ended when Rodgers tore an Achilles tendon in the opener, hoping to rebuild optimism about their potential. The first good news is that Rodgers is healthy and back in offseason workouts. The second thing that should excite Jets fans is the commitment the franchise made to improving an unreliable offensive line. Not only did GM Joe Douglas add veteran talent — in guard John Simpson and offensive tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses — but he also used a first-round pick on left tackle Olu Fashanu. This is called throwing numbers at the problem, and I love it. The acquisition of wide receiver Mike Williams is another solid move that should add a vertical dimension to the offense. Yes, there are real questions about keeping players healthy (especially Williams and Smith). There also should be real hype about what the team could accomplish if injuries don’t derail it for a second straight year.
Calvin Ridley says Titans WR Treylon Burks reminds him of Julio Jones, A.J. Brown and Terrell Owens | CBS Sports
Many wonder what Burks’ role is going to be with DeAndre Hopkins, Ridley and Boyd ahead of him on the depth chart. New coach Brian Callahan says Burks is “gonna play everything,” and noted that he’s been “really impressive” in OTAs. Hopkins told reporters earlier this month that Burks is “one of the most athletic people I’ve ever played with,” given his size and speed. This week, it was Ridley’s turn to praise the former Arkansas star.
Klint Kubiak is having Taysom Hill do things he’s “never done before” | NBC Sports
Hill has lined up as a running back, fullback, outside receiver, slot receiver, H-back and tight end and has worked in the individual portion of the offseason program with the tight ends and with the running backs, according to Paras. Hill is not playing quarterback.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Hill said. “It’s weird to say after seven years of doing what I’ve been doing that I’m being asked to do things I’ve never done before. That is exciting to me, and it’s challenging and I love to be challenged like that. I’m grateful for those guys creating unique and fun opportunities for me.”
Justin Fields shoots down wild rumor of new role with Steelers | New York Post
“Nah, I think everybody kind of interpreted it wrong,” Fields said, as covered by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“Coach Danny was basically just trying to send a message that no matter who you are, you could be on special teams. He just used that as an example. It’s funny how serious social media takes everything. It was kind of funny to me when everybody was making a big deal about it for no reason.”
Jets’ Quinnen Williams knew Aaron Rodgers has had a long NFL career. But he’s stunned it’s Year 20 | Associated Press
A reporter was asking the star defensive lineman a question after practice Wednesday when he pointed out that 40-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers is entering his 20th season in the NFL.
“Twenty years?” Williams asked incredulously before whistling. “I didn’t know that. Aaron’s 20 years in the NFL? Mannn.”
It then occurred to Williams that rookie running back Braelon Allen, the team’s fourth-round pick out of Wisconsin and the youngest player selected in the draft, is only 20.
“So he’s been in the NFL as long as he’s been alive!” the 26-year-old Williams said with a smile. “That’s crazy, huh? I’ve got to joke with (Rodgers) about that.”
Vikings re-sign offensive lineman Dalton Risner to one-year deal | Vikings Wire
According to ESPN Insider Adam Schefter, the Minnesota Vikings have re-signed offensive lineman Dalton Risner to a one-year deal. The Vikings starting guard last season had a rather public disappointment in his free agent market, but it seems he’s finally found a suitor, and it’s back in Minneapolis.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
In a new running back ranking, PFF has Isiah Pacheco right where he belongs
This ranking confirms what we should already know: Pacheco is a seventh-round steal who can do the dirty work Kansas City needs done, rather than be a playmaker like Kareem Hunt. It was all right to want the team to replace Hunt’s spectacular 2017-2018 production (who wouldn’t want that?) but since then, the Chiefs have proven that’s not what they needed.
Valentine didn’t even mention the most intriguing part of Pachceo’s 2023 performance: his PFF grade rose from 74.6 to 82.3 primarily from substantial improvements in ball security and pass blocking — exactly where Kansas City needed an upgrade.
George Kittle ranked over Travis Kelce in new PFF ranking
Kittle has always been a better blocker. As Kosko notes, that makes him a perfect fit in the 49ers’ offense. But PFF’s numbers show that Kelce is a much more reliable receiver — and that makes him something that Kittle has never been: a player that opposing defenses must scheme to limit.
So any day of the week (except Tuesday, on which the Chiefs won’t play during 2024) I’d still prefer Kelce. But because of the circumstances, I’m willing to bend a little. Since both are perfect for their respective franchises, I’d have been happier to see Kittle and Kelce tied in first place.