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Jalen Nailor MIN WR
Vikings' Jalen Nailor: Competing for No. 3 role
8m ago
Nailor was the first player Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell mentioned when asked about the No. 3 receiver role, ESPN's Kevin Seifert reports.
Nailor, Brandon Powell and Trent Sherfield look like the top candidates for the job after Minnesota opted against bringing in a clear replacement for former No. 3 receiver K.J. Osborn (now with the Patriots). A 2022 sixth-round pick, Nailor has run just 77 routes through two seasons but has made the most of his limited opportunities with 12 catches for 208 yards and a touchdown on 19 targets. Hamstring and head injuries limited him to six games last year, and he took 67 of his 94 offensive snaps for the season during a Week 10 win over New Orleans. Nailor has enjoyed better health this offseason, apart from missing a few minicamp practices with an illness.
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Tre Tucker LV WR
Raiders' Tre Tucker: Excels during OTAs and minicamp
16h ago
Tucker blew by the Raiders' defensive backs during spring practices, according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com.
Granted, it's not unusual for small, fast receivers to excel in early offseason practices without tackling. The Raiders seem optimistic it will carry over in this case, with coach Antonio Pierce saying Tucker is a "different dude" who plays like "the biggest guy out there" despite being 5-foot-9, 185 pounds. Tucker opened last season as the team's fourth/fifth WR after being a third-round pick, eventually working his way up to the No. 3 role and then catching 11 of 15 targets for 170 yards and two touchdowns over the final four weeks. He now seems to be holding off Michael Gallup for that No. 3 role, but it probably won't come with too many snaps or targets in an offense that has Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers at wide receiver and Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer at tight end.
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Jahan Dotson WAS WR
Commanders' Jahan Dotson: Optimistic about Kingsbury's offense
16h ago
Dotson recently told reporters it's been "really nice" having a simplified approach under new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
Dotson wasn't a good fit under former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, whose scheme emphasized screen passes and other quick throws that relied on yards after the catch. That's not Dotson's strength, nor did it help that Sam Howell was one of the least accurate QBs on deep passes. Kingsbury and No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels may prove to be better fits for Dotson, but it would still be unwise to completely ignore his 2023 struggles. Out of 81 qualified wide receivers, he was 73rd in yards per target (6.2), 77th in yards per route (0.79), 78th in YAC average (2.1) and 78th in target rate (12.7 percent). Dotson had five more yards and three more TDs in five fewer games back in 2022, when he was the 16th overall draft pick and a Week 1 starter. The upcoming season will be his fifth in a row with a new coordinator/playcaller, dating back to his junior year at Penn State.
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Jayden Daniels WAS QB
Commanders' Jayden Daniels: Works with starters at minicamp
17h ago
Daniels got most of the first-team reps at June minicamp, Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports reports.
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin, RB Austin Ekeler and head coach Dan Quinn all offered glowing praise during minicamp, mentioning Daniels' work ethic, leadership and understanding of Kliff Kingsbury's offense. Even so, Quinn hasn't determined a Week 1 starter and said the plan all along was for Daniels and Marcus Mariota to split first-team snaps during spring practices, per John Keim of ESPN.com. Reports from training camp in late July and early August should provide a better idea as to whether Daniels is truly competing with Mariota or is all but locked in for the Week 1 start at Tampa Bay.
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Shaquille Leonard PHI OLB
Shaquille Leonard: Wants new team, open to retirement
21h ago
Leonard said he wishes to sign with a new team and play during the 2024 NFL season, but that he'd be at peace with calling it a career if no opportunity presents itself, Kyle Smeldy of the Indianapolis Star reports.
Leonard, a three-time All-Pro, posted 88 tackles in 14 regular-season games split between the Colts and Eagles in 2023, his comeback after a 2022 campaign plagued by injuries. Though he's remained a free agent throughout OTAs and mandatory minicamps, Leonard said he's staying in shape and waiting for an opportunity to sign, while leaving open the possibility of retirement. "If it happens, it happens," Leonard said. "If it don't, it don't. I think throughout my career I've had a great career, even if I do step away from it."
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Mac McCain III NO CB
Saints' Mac McCain: Latches on with New Orleans
2d ago
The Saints signed McCain on Thursday.
McCain was waived by the Panthers with an undisclosed injury last September, and he appears to now be back to full health. The 26-year-old hasn't played in an NFL game since getting into two contests with Philadelphia in 2021 but will have a chance in training camp to compete for a depth role in New Orleans' secondary.
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