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Of the three quarterbacks currently under contract, the Denver Broncos will be returning at least two in 2024.
Practice-squad QB Ben DiNucci told the Denver Gazette's Chris Tomasson on Thursday that he intends to ink a reserve/futures deal with the Broncos next week.
"Monday morning, I’ll come back and sign a futures contract for next year, so I’m excited," he said to Tomasson.
The Broncos originally signed DiNucci, 27, last May following a successful stint in the XFL during which he led the now-defunct league in attempts (374), completions (272), passing yards (2,671), and QB rushing yards (305) and ranked second in passing touchdowns (23) across 10 starts (seven wins).
A 2020 seventh-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys, DiNucci spent the majority of this season on Denver's taxi squad, although he did serve as the team's third-string emergency QB in Weeks 13, 15, and 16.
"It’s a way for us to help invest in someone that we want [and someone who] we see being here as a young, developmental player," head coach Sean Payton said on Dec. 4 of DiNucci's promotion.
DiNucci will continue to develop behind presumed 2024 starter Jarrett Stidham with Russell Wilson expected to be released in March. The club is also likely to bring in another veteran or a rookie signal-caller to pair with the two.
In addition to DiNucci, practice-squad cornerback Reese Taylor and tight end Johnny Lumpkin are "hopeful" to land futures contracts with the Broncos, per Tomasson.
More must-reads:
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- The 'NFL Passing YPG leaders' quiz
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The 'NFL Passing YPG leaders' quiz
The Dallas Cowboys offense has been one of the most explosive units in the NFL this season, but they struggled in their 44-24 loss to the Denver Broncos in 8. Quarterback Dak Prescott threw for just 188 yards – his fewest since Week 1 against Philadelphia – finishing without a touchdown and two interceptions just one week after dicing up the Washington Commanders. The good news for the inconsistent Cowboys is that they’re 2-0-1 following a loss this season and their Week 9 opponent is the 2-5 Arizona Cardinals on "Monday Night Football." They’ll also be tasked with stopping Jacoby Brissett rather than Kyler Murray, who is recovering from a foot sprain and won’t start for Arizona but could get some action according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. Which brings us to today’s quiz. Prescott has been mostly brilliant for the Cowboys this season, throwing 16 touchdowns to five interceptions and 258.8 yards per game. He’s also one of 37 NFL players to average at least 230 passing yards per game through their career. With that being said, how many of those players can you name in five minutes? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
Three offseason trade targets for Blue Jays to add an impact bat
The Toronto Blue Jays and their fans are fresh off the most heartbreaking loss in franchise history. Putting the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers on the brink of elimination with two cracks to win the World Series at home, only to lose two nail-biters that each came down to the final out. It’s going to take a long time to get over it, if that’s even possible to do. However, they'll have to turn the page rather quickly because in just three days, the negotiating window for free agents expires, and all are free to sign wherever they so choose. Toronto will be busy in an attempt to retain the likes of star shortstop Bo Bichette and starting pitchers Shane Bieber, Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer. At the same time, the front office must be active in improving its roster from the outside, whether that’s via free agency or trade. While there are some intriguing names for the Blue Jays to target on the open market, given their needs, heading down the trade route could make the most sense. Here are three ideal trade targets for the Toronto Blue Jays to add an impactful left-handed bat to their lineup for 2025-26 and beyond: Oneil Cruz | Pittsburgh Pirates Cruz’s name popped up in trade rumors ahead of the deadline in August, and it’s fair to wonder if he still could be available if Pittsburgh gets the right offer. The 27-year-old has all of the tools to be one of the best hitters in baseball, standing at 6-foot-7, 240 pounds with extreme power and bat speed. His numbers last season (20 HRs, 61 RBI), while solid, didn't reflect his talent, but it's understandable given the lack of protection around him on the Pirates. In Toronto, Cruz could slot in behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bichette, immediately becoming the most dangerous left-handed hitter in a right-heavy lineup. Matt Wallner | Minnesota Twins The 39th overall pick back in 2019 may not publicly be on the trade block, but after its sell-off at the deadline, it doesn’t feel like anyone is untouchable in Minnesota. Like Cruz, Wallner, at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, has big-time power, and the Blue Jays saw that firsthand when he crushed three HRs and six RBI during their three-game series in Toronto in late August. He does have some swing and miss in his bat (.231 career average), but with how often the top of the Blue Jays lineup gets on base, all it takes is one swing for Wallner to put up a crooked number on the scoreboard. Jarren Duran | Boston Red Sox The 2024 All-Star Game MVP has been in constant trade discussions for over a year now, and it feels inevitable that he gets dealt out of Boston this winter. Duran had more of an up-and-down 2025 campaign, though he's displayed the ability to drive in runs (84 RBI) and has power with even more untapped potential. Combine that with his speed and athleticism, and you can see why so many teams would love to acquire him. Trading within the division is never easy, but the 29-year-old would be a perfect fit in the middle of Toronto's lineup, so it's something they should absolutely look into.
Brad Marchand Reportedly Refused Trade to Different Team Before Joining Panthers
** Author’s Note: We’re working to get verification and footage of the comments from Marchand. This report comes from multiple social accounts that claim they heard the remarks firsthand. According to a report by @j_vmess on social media, former Boston Bruins captain and now Florida Panthers veteran star Brad Marchand shared a surprising story during Pantherfest this weekend. Apparently, he confirmed that he was nearly traded at the NHL trade deadline to a different team. He refused that trade, which led him to joining the Florida Panthers. Revealing that the Bruins moved him to a different NHL club, Marchand said he told the team he would not accept a trade there and would refuse to report if dealt. Ultimately, the Bruins pivoted and traded Marchand to Florida. Marchand went on to win a Stanley Cup with the team and re-sign there this past offseason as a free agent. @flatcatsandrats added to the report, noting that according to Marchand, the deal came together just before the deadline closed. “I got traded to another team about an hour before the deadline,” Marchand is said to have told fans. “When they called me, I said no — I wasn’t going.” Marchand didn’t specify which team had acquired his rights; the assumption is that the Los Angeles Kings had expressed serious interest. Marchand has reportedly noted in previous interviews that he wasn’t interested in playing for the Kings or on the West Coast. So too, back in June, Elliotte Friedman wrote that the Kings thought they had a trade for Marchand completed. At the time of Friedman’s article, Marchand was weighing his free agency options, Friedman explained: “Florida is first up, obviously, with the advantage of already being a perfect fit and good state taxes. If he doesn’t stay, Toronto and Utah are expected to be among the serious pursuers. Utah has indicated it is not crazy about term, Toronto could prefer to stretch it out, but, watching him in the final, who wouldn’t want him? Los Angeles (who had a deal with Boston, only to find out Marchand wanted Florida), New Jersey, Washington, etc., etc., he can fit anywhere.” “This was the only team I was coming to,” suggested another person who cited Marchand’s comments this weekend. It was common knowledge that teams were interested in Marchand at the deadline, but knowing that a trade had been finalized and that Marchand was the one who squashed it is an added wrinkle.
Could Dolphins fire Mike McDaniel before season ends after parting ways with Chris Grier?
Shortly after Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross announced on Friday that the Dolphins and general manager Chris Grier had "mutually" agreed to part ways, a report revealed that Mike McDaniel would "remain Miami’s head coach for the remainder of the season at least." It appears not everybody is convinced McDaniel will stay employed through Week 18 of the ongoing campaign. When could Dolphins part ways with Mike McDaniel? "Nothing is guaranteed for McDaniel at the end of the season, or even over the next few weeks, including a stand-alone game in Madrid followed by a bye," NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote on Monday. "But he has a chance to prove himself, as Ross, team president Tom Garfinkel and Ross' advisors try to chart a course. I would guess that leads the Dolphins to a new head of football ops, and that person would make a call on McDaniel — unless McDaniel’s grip on the locker room slips (that’d be the one way McDaniel could still lose his job in-season)." McDaniel was the subject of hot-seat rumors long before the Dolphins fell to 2-7 on the season via an ugly 28-6 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens this past Thursday night. The Dolphins notched zero postseason wins over McDaniel's first three campaigns in charge, and the club's culture under the advertised offensive guru has come into question. On Monday, Miami made it known the club is ready to sell ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline when it agreed to send pass-rusher Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2026 third-round draft pick. In short, things could get worse for the 2025 Dolphins before they get better. Why Stephen Ross may be ready to blow things up Miami hosts the 6-2 Buffalo Bills on Nov. 9 before the Dolphins face the Washington Commanders (3-6) in Madrid on Nov. 16. It seems as if Breer thinks there's a chance Ross could fire McDaniel during Miami's Week 12 bye. "Ross, now in his 18th season as owner, hasn’t won a playoff game," Breer added. "His once-proud franchise last won one in Grier’s first year there as a scout, and Dave Wannstedt’s first year as coach (2000). That’s the longest such drought in the NFL, which illustrates how far they are from the days of Dan Marino in South Florida." As of Monday afternoon, ESPN BET had the Dolphins as 8.5-point home underdogs against the Bills. On paper, the roster McDaniel will have available to him for that matchup will be weaker than the one that was blown out on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 9.
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