Philadelphia Eagles DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

During an NFL combine medical evaluation, doctors found that Texas A&M wide receiver Ainias Smith (shin) has a stress fracture in his left shin, according to sources. Smith won't work out at the combine in Indianapolis this weekend and will visit with a specialist next week. The 22-year-old wideout's after-the-catch abilities make him an intriguing prospect at the NFL level, but unfortunately, this injury will cause his draft stock to fall ahead of April's draft. In addition to the stress fracture that was discovered this week, Ainias fractured his leg in 2022. With a new leg fracture to consider, Smith has quickly become a pretty big injury risk for the upcoming NFL draft.

The New York Giants and impending free-agent running back Saquon Barkley's representatives had a "good (initial) meeting" on Wednesday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, according to a source. The Giants are reportedly open to multiple options, including memorializing Barkley's legacy as a Giants, pending an agreement on mutual terms. The 27-year-old is unlikely to receive the franchise tag for the second straight year, although the G-Men aren't ruling it out. If it makes sense financially for both sides, a long-term extension makes the most sense, but the Giants will be way given Barkley's long injury history. Wherever he lands in 2024, Barkley will be a risk/reward RB1 for fantasy managers after he missed three more games with injury in 2023 and finished under 1,000 yards rushing for the third time in his six NFL seasons.

Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan said that he has "full faith" in quarterback Kenny Pickett. Pickett, a former first-round pick, hasn't looked good in his first two NFL seasons, but lacking other options on their current roster, the Steelers are crossing their fingers that the 25-year-old can make improvements this offseason and earn the starting gig this summer in training camp. It doesn't mean that they won't look to re-sign Mason Rudolph or bring in another veteran in free agency to push Pickett for the starting gig, though. In 25 games (24 starts) since his rookie season in 2022, Pickett has completed only 62.6% of his pass attempts for 4,474 yards, 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Not only was Pickett hurt in 2023, but he was also benched in favor of Rudolph late in the year. Unless he makes a drastic improvement in Year 3, Pickett might not be long for Pittsburgh.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith said earlier this month that he's not worried about a long-term contract extension this offseason. "It's all in God's hands," Smith said. "At the end of the day, extension or not, I'm going to have to come in and do what I have to do." The 25-year-old pass-catcher is now eligible for an extension after completing three seasons in the NFL. At the very least, the Eagles will pick up Smith's fifth-year option, which will take him through the 2025 season. The former 10th overall pick in 2021 out of Alabama has topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last two years and has gone for 3,178 yards and 19 touchdowns in his three years in the league. Smith has been durable, too, and his fantasy arrow continues to point up heading into 2024.

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen isn't ruling out using the franchise tag on impending free-agent running back Saquon Barkley, even though it was reported on Monday that they were unlikely to use it on him. "The franchise tag is not off the table. He wants a fair deal and I appreciate that," Schoen said. Using the franchise tag on the 27-year-old RB would cost the G-Men around $12.1 million in 2024, and it would be the second straight year they would have used the tag on him. Even after missing more time due to injury in 2023, Barkley would be a hot commodity at the position this offseason if he doesn't end up re-signing in New York. The two-time Pro Bowler averaged 3.9 yards per carry on 247 attempts for 962 rushing yards and six TDs in 14 games in 2023. No matter where he lands, the oft-injured RB will be a risk/reward RB1 for fantasy managers.