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With the success of St. Louis in the 2024 UFL season, the Battlehawks were expected to attract the attention of NFL teams. One day after the conclusion of the UFL Championship game, two players are already heading out the door.
NFL reporter Aaron Wilson reported Monday that offensive tackle Jaryd Jones-Smith is signing with the Atlanta Falcons and running back Jacob Saylors is heading to New York to play with the Giants. Both players had their contracts terminated by the UFL on Monday.
Jones-Smith is coming off a campaign as one of the best left tackles in the UFL, landing on the All-UFL team. He was also on the All-XFL team last year as a starter on the Battlehawks offensive line. Jones-Smith has NFL experience, playing in seven total games with the Las Vegas Raiders and the Baltimore Ravens.
Saylors was second in the UFL in rushing yards (461) and rushing touchdowns (five) and he also landed on the All-UFL team. He played in the preseason with the Cincinnati Bengals, contributing nine carries for 27 yards in three games.
The Battlehawks had eight players who signed with NFL teams last offseason. Six UFL players were released from their contracts Monday night as they prepare to sign NFL contracts.
More must-reads:
- Packers releasing three-time Super Bowl champion
- Browns releasing one-time Pro Bowl wide receiver
- The 'Season TD pass leaders by NFL team' quiz
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Steelers May Immediately Pursue One Of Aaron Rodgers' Former Targets To Boost Offense
The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently constructing the team's final roster for the 2025 season, which is one of the toughest things to do for every organization throughout the NFL. Players on the edge of rosters are traded from team to team, while other players are waived where teams will then have the option to pick them up on the waiver wire. The Steelers will have a chance to do this, but it will be interesting to see what positions the franchise prioritizes before the start of the regular season. Wide receiver is a spot fans want to see upgraded, but the organization could also use some added depth on both sides of the trenches. Many players were released on Monday and Tuesday, and there are a ton the Steelers could consider picking up. However, there is an intriguing name available at wide receiver after Tuesday's news. The New York Jets released Malachi Corley, who was a wide receiver the organization drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Steelers showed some interest in him during the pre-draft process, but didn't have the change to pick him in the third round. Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports was the first to report the news. There was a ton of potential for Corley coming out of college. He played at Western Kentucky, and over four seasons, he caught 259 passes for over 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns. His production was consistent, but he had some trouble transitioning to the NFL. It doesn't help that he went to a dysfunctional organization like the Jets, and a part of his release is the fact that a new regime came in and took over. The guys who drafted Corley are no longer there. An obvious connection between Corley and the Steelers is at quarterback with Aaron Rodgers. It was reported that Rodgers wanted the Jets to draft Corley back in 2024, which probably played a factor in the organization doing so. He has some familiarity with the young receiver, and that could lead to him swaying Pittsburgh into bringing him in. Rodgers liked Corley, and Pittsburgh had interest in him prior to the 2024 NFL Draft. Both of those are reasons the organization may submit a waiver claim for him. He had a rough rookie season in 2024 as he struggled to even make it onto the football field, but a change of scenery and a new organization could play a role in helping him improve. Steelers May Need To Luck Into Landing Malachi Corley If The Organization Wants Him Until the first three weeks of the regular season are over with, the waiver wire goes in the order of the 2025 NFL Draft. After the first three weeks of the regular season, it changes to the current standings in the NFL. So, currently, Pittsburgh has the 21st priority on the waiver wire. That means the 20 teams in front of them can submit a claim for Corley, or any other player Pittsburgh may be interested in on the first claim. That cycle will then repeat itself, and that is how waived players end up on new rosters. Corley still has potential, and one of the 20 teams in front of Pittsburgh could try to grab him.
How does Terry McLaurin's extension stack up to other star WRs?
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin reportedly sought a deal similar to that of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf. The team gave him what he wanted on Monday. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the star WR's agents, Buddy Baker and Tony Bonagura, said he has agreed to a three-year extension worth up to $96M. Metcalf, 27, signed a five-year, $150M deal with the Steelers shortly after being traded from the Seattle Seahawks in March. (The deal contains an out after the 2026 season.) While Commanders fans are happy that McLaurin should now be ready for Week 1 against the New York Giants, the move could be considered a slight overpay. The former Ohio State Buckeyes star turns 30 on Sept. 15, an age when WRs typically decline. Other WRs who are approaching their 30s have signed for less this offseason. Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton, who turns 30 on Oct. 10, signed a four-year, $92M extension in July. McLaurin, however, has been more productive than Sutton and Metcalf throughout his career. Since the Commanders selected him with pick No. 76 in the 2019 NFL Draft, he has amassed 6,379 receiving yards. Metcalf had 6,324 receiving yards in his first six seasons with Seattle, while Sutton had 5,340 receiving yards in his first seven seasons with Denver. McLaurin has played with subpar quarterbacks for most of his career. After Washington added star QB Jayden Daniels in 2024, he produced even better numbers. In 17 games, he logged a career-high 13 touchdown catches, the second most in the league. "Obviously, me and Terry have a very good relationship," Daniels has said this offseason, via ESPN's John Keim. "Whenever the time comes and he's back out there on the field, I don't feel we'll miss a beat." The Commanders may have paid a little more than they wanted to, but the signing is still a solid move. McLaurin is of a similar caliber to his peers. He could also help Washington go on an even deeper playoff run after making the NFC Championship Game last season.
Raiders sign five-time Pro Bowl WR amid Jakobi Meyers drama
Hours after the NFL Network reported Jakobi Meyers requested a trade from the Las Vegas Raiders amid a contract dispute, the team added a veteran wide receiver. Per Ian Rapoport, the Raiders are signing Amari Cooper. "Reunion: Former Bills WR Amari Cooper, one of the NFL’s top free agents still available, is signing with the Raiders on a 1-year deal, per source," Rapoport posted on X. "Some late, big-time pass-catching help for the team that once drafted him in the first round." Cooper helps provide depth to a receiver room that was light at the position, even if the situation with Meyers was cleared up. Behind Meyers on the depth chart are receivers Tre Tucker and Dont'e Thornton Jr., a rookie fourth-round pick. The Oakland Raiders selected Cooper with the No. 4 pick in the 2015 draft. He's earned five Pro Bowl nominations, with his last appearance coming in 2023. Cooper has spent time with the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, and Buffalo Bills. The 31-year-old has appeared in 154 games and started 143, recording 711 receptions for 10,033 yards and 64 touchdowns. He recorded 297 yards receiving and two touchdowns in 2024. The signing gives Geno Smith another talented receiver to throw to this season. The Raiders have three solid targets with Meyers and second-year tight end Brock Bowers. Signing Cooper also gives the Raiders flexibility if they want to trade Meyers (or if he holds out), unhappy with playing in Las Vegas on the final season of his three-year, $33 million deal he signed in 2023.
Micah Parsons trade request: Adam Schefter shares latest update on future with Cowboys
Dolphins Roster Moves Tracker: Impressive Camp Not Enough for Edge Rusher
Keeping tabs on all the roster moves the Miami Dolphins are making on this Tuesday, August 26 as they get down to the NFL-mandate limit of 53 players by 4 p.m. ET. McLendon Comes Up Short Among the young edge defenders who impressed during training camp, you could have put Derrick McLendon at or near the top of the list. But it wasn't enough to earn him a roster spot. McLendon will be waived, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. As was the case with Quinton Bell, McLendon was hurt by the arrival of veteran Matthew Judon and his lack of special teams experience probably didn't help his cause, either. But McLendon clearly has pass-rushing ability, which is why it would make sense to see the Dolphins re-sign him to the practice squad if he clears waivers, which will be revealed by Wednesday at noon. McLendon, the former Florida State and University of Colorado player who spent last season on the Dolphins practice squad, tied with Grayson Murphy for the team lead in sacks this preseason with two. Along with the McLendon news, the Dolphins also will be released interior defensive lineman Matt Dickerson, per Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Dickerson, like McLendon, has a solid training camp but his spot on the roster became tenuous once the Dolphins spent three draft picks on interior defensive linemen this year — Kenneth Grant, Jordan Philllips and Zeek Biggers. Saying Bye to Bell The first reported cut of the day can be classified as a bit of a surprise because it involved linebacker Quinton Bell being waived, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. This comes after Bell played all 17 games in 2024 and made three starts on defense while playing 84 percent of the snaps on special teams. While he's never been a dynamic player, Bell is a solid two-way defender, and that combined with his special teams work figured to make him a good bet to make the initial 53-man roster. Of course, Bell wasn't helped by the signing last week of veteran edge defender Matthew Judon, who brings double-digit-sack potential to what has the makings of an elite group if Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips can stay healthy and Chop Robinson builds on his strong rookie season of 2024. Along with the aforementioned quartet, others in the mix at edge defender/outside linebacker for the Dolphins include fellow special teams standout Cameron Goode, along with promising young pass rushers Derrick McLendon and Grayson Murphy. Bell originally joined the Dolphins in October 2023 when they signed him to the practice squad. He was a star at training camp in the early going last summer, though never was able to deliver that kind of impact in the regular season. Dolphins Add Douglas After what’s been a drawn-out process, the Miami Dolphins are finally adding a veteran cornerback to whom they’ve been linked for a few months. The team is signing former Buffalo Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas to a one-year, $3 million deal. Miami has had an interest in Douglas since it dealt Jalen Ramsey to the Steelers. Douglas made 15 starts for the Bills last season, recording 43 total tackles, five passes defended, and one forced fumble. He’s definitely one of the better options available, and he won’t turn 30 until Aug. 29. Douglas will come in and immediately be a starting-caliber option on the outside. That’s obviously valuable at a position like cornerback. He’s also a primary zone cornerback, which is what the Dolphins like to run under defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. The Dolphins’ cornerback room wasn’t great coming into camp, and it’s been hit by injuries this summer. Kader Kohou and Artie Burns are out for the year with ACL injuries, while Ethan Bonner and Kendall Sheffield are also injured as Week 1 approaches. More Miami Dolphins Coverage:
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