There’s room for one more Watt in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers are adding fullback Derek Watt, brother of Pro Bowl linebacker T.J. Watt, on a three-year, $9.75 million contract, a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The deal makes Derek Watt one of the highest-paid fullbacks in the NFL.
Though the Steelers don’t run a fullback-heavy offense — fullback Roosevelt Nix hasn’t played more than 16% of snaps in a season — Watt will be a major piece of Pittsburgh’s special teams with the departure of captain Tyler Matakevich to the Buffalo Bills.
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- Fantasy football, NFL analyst for ESPN.com
- Member of Pro Football Writers of America
- Founding director of Pro Football Focus Fantasy
- 2013 FSTA award winner for most accurate preseason rankings
We will offer 2020 fantasy football analysis and updated projections off of the most notable NFL free-agent signings and trades throughout the early portion of the signing period.
The Tennessee Titans are not interested in Tom Brady and are working hard to get a deal done with quarterback Ryan Tannehill, sources tell ESPN’s Dianna Russini.
Tennessee has been widely speculated as a potential free-agent destination for Brady, given the Titans’ impressive postseason run and Brady’s friendship with Titans coach Mike Vrabel.
But sources tell Russini that Tennessee’s focus at quarterback is bringing back Tannehill, who also is scheduled to become a free agent.
Sources told ESPN’s Jeff Darlington last month that Brady, at the time, was operating under the belief that he would enter free agency to play somewhere other than the New England Patriots next season.
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- Covered Patriots since 1997
- Joined ESPN in 2009
NFL free agency is off and running, and we’re keeping track of every major signing, trade and release of the 2020 offseason, with analysis from our NFL Nation reporters and grades from Bill Barnwell. The new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET March 18, which means free-agent signings can be made official after that. The first round of the 2020 NFL draft begins April 23.
Here’s a breakdown of every 2020 NFL free-agent signing by the New England Patriots and how each will impact the upcoming season:
Length of deal: Two years
What it means: Slater is an inspirational leader, and his return before he officially hit free agency was a top priority. The Patriots are undergoing a coaching transition on special teams with Joe Judge now the head coach of the Giants, so Slater’s presence could be even more important in 2020.
What’s the risk: Slater turns 35 in September, and the Patriots finished last season with the oldest roster in the NFL. There’s some level of risk with age and the possibility of declining performance, but Slater’s presence and leadership offset any minor concern along those lines.