Team news: San Francisco 49ers | Page 26

It is too early to know which direction it will head, but as the Patriots are currently on break before their first training camp practice July 24, one thing can be decisively stated about Polk's initial work: His toughness and relentless mentality reflected well on the culture Wolf and Mayo hope to create.

Related Players: DeMario Douglas, K.J. Osborn, Kendrick Bourne, Javon Baker

Reiss would later remark that Osborn, Douglas, and Polk could be the team's "top three targets if everyone is healthy." It's an interesting group to target, considering we have no way of knowing exactly how things will shape out. Douglas and Polk make for great late-round dart throws.

The Jaguars have reached a deal with their star QB, Trevor Lawrence. Sources say they are giving the former No. 1 pick a 5-year extension worth $275M — $55M a year — with $200M guaranteed and $142M fully.

Related Players: Mac Jones, C.J. Beathard

Lawrence now has the hair *and* the commas in the bank account. Mac Jones —who went 14 picks after the franchise QB— is now backing up the 275 million-dollar man. Consider Lawrence a locked-in SuperFlex QB and a strong streaming option ahead of 2024.

The Buccaneers have agreed to terms with veteran WR Sterling Shepard on a one-year deal. Following eight seasons with the Giants, who drafted him in the second round in 2016, Shepard reunites with his former Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield in Tampa.

Related Players: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Trey Palmer, Jalen McMillan

Shepard adds some depth to the wide receiver room as they head into the summer months but will have a difficult time producing in fantasy if he makes the final roster.

Veteran WR Mecole Hardman is re-signing with the Chiefs on a one-year deal, per source. A hero in Super Bowl LVIII after a brief stint with the Jets, Hardman is back in Kansas City.

Related Players: Rashee Rice, Skyy Moore, Justin Watson, Kadarius Toney

Hardman finished with 33 targets in eight games during his last stint with the Chiefs, so he doesn't have much standalone value. He puts the squeeze on the back-half of the rotation, though.

Ricky Pearsall has been easy to pick out in San Francisco 49ers practices.

For one, he’s been the team’s most prominent receiver on the field for most of the spring. Brandon Aiyuk was a no-show on Day 1 of the mandatory minicamp on Tuesday as he continues to hold out for a multiyear contract extension.

Related Players: Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Chris Conley, Jacob Cowing

Barrows went on, “It’s been fun to watch both of them,” Shanahan said of the Purdy-Pearsall connection. “Brock doesn’t always get to watch how the route gets there. But he knows when guys end up in the right spot. That’s when quarterbacks get comfortable, and I think he can make that throw with Ricky right away. He’s been getting to the right spot. And when he has made a mistake, he understands it and corrects it. I think that so far those guys have had a lot of fun working together.”

Pearsall will be very interesting in fantasy should Aiyuk or Samuel miss any time. As it stands, he only profiles as a late-round dart throw

Reigning Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey once again has reset the RB market, signing a two-year extension with the 49ers, averaging $19 million per year.

McCaffrey will receive an additional $8 million over what he was scheduled to make in the first two years while adding $24 million in guarantees.

Related Players: Elijah Mitchell, Isaac Guerendo, Cody Schrader

McCaffrey solidifies himself on one of the best offenses in the league, and should still be viewed as the best RB option in fantasy football.

The 49ers are working to finalize a deal with veteran TE Logan Thomas. After a 55-catch season with the Commanders in 2023, Thomas returns to the NFC West, where he began his career as a QB for the Cardinals.

Related Players: George Kittle, Brayden Willis

This is actually quite an interesting landing spot. Thomas won't have any immediate fantasy upside but would be a streaming option if Kittle were to miss any time.

Restricted free-agent WR Jauan Jennings is signing a two-year deal with the 49ers worth up to $15.4 million, including $10.5 million guaranteed.

Jennings did not sign his free-agent tender and instead did this deal, which is akin to a one-year extension.

Related Players: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Ronnie Bell, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing

The 49ers are doing all they can to insulate Brock Purdy with weapons, and that should continue to be the case, assuming they don't move on from Samuel or Aiyuk before next season. Jennings doesn't have any standalone fantasy value as it stands, but boosts the offense as a rotational WR3/4.

Thanks to their recent draft additions, the #Jaguars released WR Zay Jones and K Joel Slye.

Related Players: Brian Thomas Jr., Gabe Davis, Christian Kirk

The Jaguars have essentially revamped their entire wide receiver room outside of Christian Kirk. As it stands, it's probably a net-neutral for QB Trevor Lawrence, but it continues to set up Brian Thomas Jr. as the team's WR1, with Kirk operating out of the slot and Gabe Davis stretching the defenses.

The Jaguars officially have signed former Packers TE Josiah Deguara.

Related Players: Evan Engram, Luke Farrell

With the Packers drafting both Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft last season, Deguara ended up becoming expendable. Deguara earned 33 targets back in 2021 but hasn't matched that usage in the two seasons since. He will provide depth behind Evan Engram.