Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Bucs WR Chris Godwin has been cleared to practice at training camp. He surprisingly avoids the PUP list despite being only ~7 months out from ACL surgery. While he won’t be a full practice participant, look for Godwin’s WR32 ADP to rise immediately. Also note: Tampa Bay just added Julio Jones on a 1-year deal.

The Bucs are "cautiously optimistic" that WR Chris Godwin (knee) will be ready for Week 1, insider Greg Auman said on SiriusXM radio Monday. "But the Bucs aren't set on him being ready just yet," Auman added. Godwin tore his right ACL and MCL on December 19 and had surgery on January 3. Week 1 is just a little more than 8 months after that surgery, which would be an extremely aggressive timeline. We'll continue to monitor Godwin's progress but still aren't projecting him to be ready for the opener. That said, there's still plenty of upside on him at his 6th-round ADP in recent FFPC drafts.

Bucs TE Cade Otton (ankle) has been cleared for the start of training camp, according to The Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud. The rookie missed OTAs and minicamp after undergoing ankle surgery in November, putting him a bit behind the 8-ball. We'll see if Otton can push TE Cam Brate and newly signed TE Kyle Rudolph for snaps.

The Buccaneers have agreed to a 1-year deal with TE Kyle Rudolph, according to multiple reports. The veteran managed just 26 catches for 257 yards and 1 TD across 16 games in his lone season with the Giants after Minnesota released him following the 2020 season. It marked the 3rd straight year in which Rudolph's receptions per game declined. Obviously not a threat for big numbers in a season that will find him turning 33 in November, Rudolph still clouds the TE target picture for an offense that (at least for now) must go without Rob Gronkowski. We weren't excited about Cameron Brate or Cade Otton in any format before this signing, which certainly doesn't help either player.

Panthers GM Scott Fitterer called the team’s QB situation “an open competition” on Tuesday. As such, Fitterer anticipates the reps being divvied up “fairly evenly” at the start of training camp. While competition might be a point of emphasis, Baker Mayfield enters camp as the clear favorite to start Week 1 over Sam Darnold. Current QB projections have the former Brown slated for 15 games.

The Browns are trading QB Baker Mayfield to the Panthers for a conditional 5th-round pick in 2024, NFL Network reports. The 2 teams "split the financials to make it happen," according to Ian Rapoport, so Carolina is presumably picking up about half of Mayfield's nearly $19 million 2022 cap hit. Mayfield is coming off a disappointing, injury-riddled 2021 season but played well the previous year, finishing 10th among 32 qualifiers in Pro Football Focus' passing grades. In fact, Mayfield earned higher PFF passing grades in each of his first 3 NFL seasons than QB Sam Darnold has managed in any of his 4 NFL seasons. So Mayfield is a tangible upgrade for D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, Terrace Marshall and Christian McCaffrey. Mayfield himself looks like just a middling QB2, although those weapons give him some weekly upside. Check out the updated projections for the Panthers offense.

Update: Per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Mayfield agreed to shave about $3.5 million off his 2022 salary. The Browns will pay him $10.5 million this year; the Panthers around $5 million.

Speaking at his youth football camp, Browns QB Baker Mayfield confirmed that he plans to play elsewhere in 2022. “I think it’s been pretty obvious the mutual decision on both sides is to move on,” Mayfield said. Cleveland would be the best spot to rehab his real-life value, especially with Deshaun Watson likely to get a lengthy suspension. But it’s been clear for weeks that such a scenario won’t play out. It’s only a matter of time before the Browns either release Mayfield or unload him to Seattle, Carolina or another team.

CBS' Josina Anderson reports that the Seahawks "still have high-level interest" in Baker Mayfield and are even open to extending his contract. With training camp now about a month away, we should be nearing movement on this front. Carolina has also reportedly remained in the hunt.

Speculating on the team's replacement plan in the wake of TE Rob Gronkowski's (2nd) retirement, Scott Smith of the team website highlights the potential of 4th-round rookie Cade Otton. Smith says "there is the potential for him to be the one tight end the Buccaneers keep on the field most often," with receiving skills that "many draft analysts" believe exceed his college usage and the fact that he's "already considered an above-average and very willing blocker." Smith goes on to say that there might not be a "single clear answer" and that the Bucs could just blend Otton, fellow rookie Ko Kieft, vet Cameron Brate and perhaps 1 more player. Otton is primarily a name to know for dynasty usage, but this also serves as a reminder to temper fantasy expectations for Brate. He's likely the team's best receiving bet at the position with Gronk gone. But Brate has also played less than 40% of Tampa Bay snaps in 3 straight years. Just 2 of those included Gronkowski, and he missed 5 games in 2021.

The Athletic's Greg Auman confirms that Bucs WR Chris Godwin is a candidate to open the season on the PUP list. That's not a surprise considering Godwin is working his way back from a mid-December ACL tear. "There have been encouraging reports on Godwin’s progress, but the Bucs have made a big investment in him long-term, so the priority will be getting him back to his old self rather than getting him back right away," Auman writes. Note that new NFL rules require a player placed on the PUP list to miss a minimum of 4 games, rather than the previous 6-game minimum. We're tentatively projecting Godwin to make his 2022 debut sometime in October.

CBS' Jonathan Jones reports that the Browns and Panthers are involved in trade talks "surrounding" QB Baker Mayfield. Jones reports that there's "urgency" for Carolina to make a move early enough to get Mayfield some minicamp reps with the team. He adds that the Panthers' offer is the best Cleveland has gotten and that the primary sticking point is how much of Mayfield's 2022 salary the Browns would pay. The QB is in the 5th and final year of his rookie contract and will likely face a "prove it" year, with unrestricted free agency ahead in March 2023. He makes obvious sense for Carolina, which currently sports Sam Darnold and Matt Corral as the top 2 options. And the relationship between Mayfield and the Browns looks finished. Mayfield hasn't proved to be a high-upside fantasy QB through 4 seasons, but the Panthers would set him up with nice pass-catching talent -- led by D.J. Moore and Christian McCaffrey. Stacking him with 1 or both players in best-ball tournament lineups now would be a low-risk, high-upside move.

Dolphins RB Chase Edmonds is adjusting to an outside zone running game for the first time in his career. “In college, I was predominantly inside zone,” Edmonds said. “High school, inside zone. The NFL with Arizona, inside zone. But here outside zone.” As for what’s different, here’s Edmonds’ take. “[I’m] just getting used to the wider tracks… the cuts are going to be at different angles and the lanes are going to be at different angles. The flow of the ‘backers are different because in inside zone, it’s more slow to fast, where I can pitter-patter my steps. Outside zone here, it’s kind of like you’re riding a wave. Once you hit that wave, you’ve got to hit it and go. I’m getting used to that.” We’ll monitor Edmonds’ transition this summer. But with new HC Mike McDaniel in charge, we fully expect a more dynamic Dolphins run game.

The Buccaneers have agreed to a 1-year deal with former Bears DL Akiem Hicks. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports it's worth $10 million, which clearly points to Hicks assuming a starting role with his new team. Tampa Bay had yet to re-sign DL Ndamukong Sun, and now has appeared to find his replacement. Hicks lost 8 games to multiple injuries last year and dealt with hamstring and ankle issues even in a healthier 2020. But the veteran has remained effective when on the field and sports some IDP upside, especially where he gets a DT or interior-lineman designation. Hicks will turn 33 in mid-November.

The Browns have released kickers Chris Blewitt and Chase McLaughlin. McLaughlin attempted all but 1 of Cleveland’s FGs last year, drilling just 71.4%. The moves pave the way for rookie 4th-rounder Cade York to handle kicking duties in 2022.

The Bucs added Washington TE Cade Otton with the 1st pick of Round 4. The 6'5, 247-pounder totaled just 91 catches for 1,026 yards (11.3 YPC) and 9 TDs across 4 college seasons and doesn't look dynamic on tape. Otton is also already 23 years old. This is an intriguing landing spot, especially if TE Rob Gronkowski doesn't return for 2022. But don't overrate Otton in your dynasty rookie drafts.

The Bucs added Arizona State RB Rachaad White in the 3rd round of the 2022 NFL Draft. White spent the past 2 years at Arizona State after transferring from Division II Nebraska-Kearney. White posted nice per-game production in a mere 4-game, COVID-shortened 2020. He broke out as a senior, averaging 5.5 yards per carry and 10.6 yards across 43 receptions – with 16 total TDs. He reminds us of a poor man’s David Johnson. White figures to sit behind Leonard Fournette for at least this season but has the upside to eventually develop into Tampa’s lead back.

The Buccaneers grabbed DL Logan Hall with the 1st pick of Round 2 in the NFL Draft. Hall enjoyed a breakthrough final season at Houston, tallying 47 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 6 sacks. At 6'6 and 285 pounds, Hall can play the edge and inside positions. He figures to play DE in Tampa Bay's 3-4 base defense and will likely be more of a tackle collector than big-play source for IDP leagues.

RB Giovani Bernard is re-signing with the Buccaneers on a 1-year deal for the "veteran salary benefit," according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. That means just less than $1.3 million for the 10th-year veteran. Bernard carried just 8 times while adding 29 targets over 12 regular-season games last year, losing 4 to hip and knee injuries late in the season. He's expected to work behind Leonard Fournette and Ke'Shawn Vaughn on the depth chart.

QB Baker Mayfield has asked the Browns to trade him, according to multiple reports. ESPN's Jake Trotter reports, however, that the team has told Mayfield it is "not accommodating his request." This, of course, follows Cleveland making a push for Deshaun Watson, which got denied. We'll see how the Mayfield situation develops. Should the Browns decide to trade Mayfield, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the QB has "strong interest" in the Colts. Mayfield is now in the 5th and final year of his rookie contract.

The Buccaneers and WR Chris Godwin have reached agreement on a 3-year, $60 million deal that includes $40 million in guarantees, according to multiple reports. Godwin had received the franchise tag, so we knew he wasn't going anywhere. This locks him in for the next 3 seasons and sets him up to hit the open market ahead of his age-29 campaign.