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Kenneth Murray Jr. is staying in the AFC. The free-agent linebacker is signing with the Titans, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Murray has since announced the move via Instagram (h/t Daniel Popper of The Athletic).
It’s a two-year deal worth $15.5M, per Garafolo. The contract can max out at $18M.
Murray was a first-round pick by the Chargers back in 2020. He earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors after finishing with 107 tackles, but a balky ankle contributed to him having an inconsistent role during his sophomore campaign.
He bounced back a bit in 2022, starting 16 of his 17 appearances. However, he was limited to only 76 tackles, and the Chargers declined his fifth-year option last offseason.
As an impending free agent, Murray showed some of the ability he flashed as a rookie, finishing the 2023 campaign with 107 tackles and a career-high three sacks. While the numbers were up, Pro Football Focus still only ranked Murray 75th among 82 qualifying linebackers.
Despite the inconsistent showing, Murray managed to get a two-year commitment from the Titans.
The team needed some reinforcement after Azeez Al-Shaair left for the Texans on Monday. Al-Shaair finished last season with a team-leading 163 tackles, and the Titans are certainly hoping that Murray can make up for that absence.
More must-reads:
- Titans star not happy that Denico Autry is joining an AFC South rival
- Way-too-early Tennessee Titans 2024 NFL Draft preview
- The 'NFL running backs with the most receptions' quiz
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Steelers rookie Will Howard may have already moved up the depth chart
Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is in full swing, and it’s already been full of excitement. With many new faces on the roster, fans are eager to see how these additions will fit in. After a busy and eventful offseason, training camp serves as the perfect opportunity for all the anticipation surrounding the team to start coming together on the field. One of the most talked-about positions for the Steelers this offseason has been quarterback. The team completely overhauled the position, leading to plenty of uncertainty and speculation early on. While the Steelers were strongly linked to Aaron Rodgers for some time, no official deal had been made by the start of the 2025 NFL Draft. Amid the uncertainty, the team made a bold decision by selecting Will Howard out of Ohio State, bringing in a new face and creating even more talk about the future of the position. Because the Steelers picked Howard late in the draft, there were questions about what his role on the team would be. Even before Rodgers signed, it was clear Howard wouldn’t be the starter. However, during a recent 7 shots drill, Howard unexpectedly took reps with the third team, raising more questions about where he might fit in. Rodgers is clearly locked in as the starting quarterback, with the hope that he can stay healthy throughout the entire season. Earlier in the offseason, he mentioned that this would likely be his final year, though he expressed excitement about the opportunity to play for a franchise like the Steelers. That said, Rodgers has always been unpredictable, and there’s still a chance his career may continue beyond this season. Regardless of what the future holds, his experience and football knowledge are incredibly valuable to the other quarterbacks on the roster, and they’ve made it clear how much they appreciate having him around. Mason Rudolph is expected to be the primary backup behind Rodgers this season. Rudolph was originally drafted by the Steelers and has spent most of his career in Pittsburgh as a dependable backup. However, he’s also shown he can step up when needed, filling in during important games and leading the team when called upon. Rudolph spent last season with the Tennessee Titans, gaining additional experience outside of Pittsburgh. After that brief stint, he re-signed with the Steelers early in the offseason, bringing familiarity, veteran presence and stability to the quarterback room behind Rodgers. Rudolph recently shared that Rodgers has been both incredibly helpful and genuinely friendly since joining the team. Many expected Skylar Thompson, another veteran backup the Steelers signed this offseason, to be next in line on the depth chart. However, with Howard now taking third-team reps, he could move up the depth chart as the season progresses. Rookies bring an element of unpredictability since they’re adjusting to a completely new environment and haven’t yet played in professional games. It’s hard to know how they’ll perform until they get real field experience. If Howard continues to perform well, there’s no reason he shouldn’t climb higher on the depth chart. It’s unlikely that Howard will get much playing time this year, but that doesn’t mean this season isn’t important for him. Learning from a player like Rodgers is incredibly valuable, and Howard has shared how grateful he is to have Rodgers as a mentor. Even if he doesn’t take the field this season, the experience and knowledge he gains behind the scenes could greatly influence his opportunities for playing time down the road. Steelers' future at QB likely isn't on the roster The Steelers were connected to several quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, and the situation drew plenty of attention due to the uncertainty surrounding Rodgers at the time. Although the team eventually signed Rodgers and selected Howard in the later rounds, it seems the search for a long-term franchise quarterback may still be ongoing. Rodgers is only on a one-year deal, and reports have already surfaced that the Steelers are eyeing next year’s quarterback draft class. Opinions on Howard vary, as some view him as a potential career backup, while others are optimistic about his upside and believe he could develop into a solid starting option in the future. Will Howard prove himself and continue to move up the depth chart?
Trade rejection speaks volumes about Red Sox's Jarren Duran intentions
The Boston Red Sox appear to have no interest in trading outfielder Jarren Duran, at least not in the near future. Trade rumors have swirled around Duran for most of the season, especially after designated hitter Rafael Devers was traded to the Giants. However, Sean McAdam from MassLive reported that the Red Sox may wait until the offseason before moving on from the former All-Star. The decision to wait on Duran is not due to a lack of offers. McAdam also reported that the Padres made a significant offer for Duran involving pitcher Dylan Cease, catching prospect Ethan Salas and another unnamed prospect. That offer was quickly rejected. The Padres have long coveted Duran. McAdam had previously reported that the Padres have been "relentless" in their pursuit of the Red Sox outfielder. The reported trade offer including Salas, the Padres second-best prospect and the 21st-best prospect in baseball per MLB.com, illustrates how serious they are about acquiring Duran. Likewise, the Red Sox's refusal to entertain such an offer, even as a starting point for negotiations, speaks volumes about their interest in moving Duran. The Padres' offer would help solve several problems for the Red Sox in both the present and future. Moving Duran would help clear up the logjam in the outfield, while Cease and Salas would respectively improve the back of their rotation and provide a possible cornerstone behind the plate going forward. Duran is a valuable trade chip as he is under team control through 2028. He has also taken a step back in production from his stellar showing in 2024, posting a respectable .254/.321/.428 batting line in 459 plate appearances entering Friday, with nine homers and 25 doubles while stealing 16 bases. That production would be an upgrade for several teams looking to improve their outfield going forward. The question is whether or not the Red Sox will be realistic in their asking price for Duran. Considering how quickly the Padres' offer was reportedly rejected, that may not be the case.
Houston Rockets Will Benefit from this Brooklyn Nets Loss
One of the biggest stories that is going on in the NBA media realm is the future of Cam Thomas in a Brooklyn Nets uniform. Thomas, who is currently a restricted free agent, has seen his value fluctuate throughout the summer, but a recent offer from the Nets may have helped settle where his current value may stand. Brooklyn offered Thomas a two-year deal worth $14 million, according to NBA reporter Jake Fischer, and while it may be a decent offer, the 23-year-old guard believes he is worth more than that. “Cam Thomas thinks of himself as one of the most elite playmaking scorers in the NBA, and he wants to be compensated as such,” said Fischer. Because of the inability to strike a deal, fans and insiders around the league have begun to speculate that Cam Thomas could very well be on his way out of Brooklyn. But what does all this have to do with the Houston Rockets? Well, when James Harden was traded from Houston to the Brooklyn Nets in 2021, this gave the Rockets a 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick swap with Houston. Brooklyn is coming off a 26-56 season, where they were a bottom-five team in the Eastern Conference last season. Now heading for yet another rebuild this upcoming season, fans may have to prepare for another lackluster year if they lose their leading scorer and spark plug, Cam Thomas. Houston is poised to have a stellar season this upcoming year so it is unlikely that the team falls anywhere near the top 15 selections, however if the Nets continue to fall down the rabbit hole of the Eastern Conference than the Rockets have a chance at either using the picks for more assets or even finding another player for the future in the respective draft classes.
Aaron Boone dishes truth on Ryan McMahon’s ‘offensive potential’
The New York Yankees addressed a glaring need at third base by acquiring Ryan McMahon in a trade with the Colorado Rockies Friday. The Yankees were expected to upgrade the hot corner before the trade deadline this season. The team has received very little production from the position in 2025 and manager Aaron Boone believes McMahon can provide a fix. “I know there’s real offensive potential in there. I know he’s had offensive success, as well as some struggles there over the last calendar year too,” Boone said of McMahon per SNY Yankees Videos. “Seems like over the last month he’s really started swinging the bat like he’s capable of. Because he can impact the ball. He can control the strike zone. [Although] He’s had some swing-and-miss that probably hurt him a little bit,” Boone added. The Yankees expect an offensive boost from new addition Ryan McMahon McMahon had spent his entire nine-year career with the Rockies after debuting with Colorado in 2017. He was expected to develop into a star for the organization but, now in his age-30 season, McMahon has yet to reach those lofty expectations. In 2025, the veteran third baseman is slashing .217/.314/.403. He has 16 home runs, 35 RBI, 42 runs scored and a 92 OPS+ in 100 games for a historically bad Rockies team. He also leads the National League with 127 strikeouts. While McMahon’s stats don’t inspire tremendous confidence, he is on pace for his sixth-career 20-home run season. And, as Boone alluded to, McMahon has picked things up a bit offensively of late. Over his last nine games, the Yankees’ new infielder is slashing .313/.389/.750 with four home runs and nine RBI. It was imperative that the Yankees added a third baseman. The hot corner has generated next to no offense for the team in 2025. And things got even worse after Oswaldo Cabrera’s season-ending injury. New York is bottom-eight in the majors at the position in fWAR, RBI, slugging percentage and OPS. While McMahon was the Yankees’ backup plan if the team couldn’t work out a deal for Eugenio Suarez, he still represents an upgrade for New York. And McMahon is one of the league’s better defensive third basemen. Given the Yankees’ recent struggles on defense, the sure-handed fielder is a welcome addition. “He can really defend over there. Just the handful of times that we’ve played against them that I watch him, you’re like, ‘That’s what it should look like over there.’ He moves really well,” Boone said of McMahon.
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