NFL Player News

The Jets selected Sadiq in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 16th overall.

No one doubts that Sadiq (6-foot-3, 241 pounds) is a good player, and the former Oregon star clearly has compelling long-term upside due to his rare athleticism (4.39-second 40, 43.5-inch vertical jump). This pick is still somewhat puzzling, if only because the Jets just spent a second-round pick on Mason Taylor in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Taylor will be only 22 years old in May. As much as there have been NFL offenses with two tight ends providing standout fantasy utility, there haven't been very many of those and the Jets are maybe the last offense you'd accuse of such competence. With all that said, Sadiq's talent might be so loud that this is more of a problem for Taylor than Sadiq.

Loveland (concussion) said he "feel(s) very good" and is embracing a larger role heading into his second NFL season, Grant Gordon of NFL.com reports.

Loveland's role expanded significantly down the stretch in his rookie season, as the 2025 first-round pick caught 28 of 48 targets for 378 yards and two touchdowns over Chicago's last four games, two of which came in the playoffs. He suffered a concussion late in the Bears' NFC divisional-round loss to the Rams, but Loveland's comments indicate he has recovered from that injury and is ready to build on his momentum from last season in a Bears offense that traded away wide receiver DJ Moore earlier this offseason. Moore finished second on the team in receiving yards behind Loveland during the 2025 regular season.

Westover signed his exclusive-rights free-agent tender with the Patriots on Tuesday.

It was merely a formality for the 26-year-old fullback. Westover has touched the ball just one time in 20 career regular-season games while logging 246 offensive snaps in that span.

Fannin (groin) participated in Tuesday's voluntary veteran minicamp practice, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.

Fannin sat out the Browns' 2025 season finale against the Bengals due to a groin injury, but he's moved past the issue. The second-year tight end sits firmly atop a depth chart which no longer includes David Njoku, who remains a free agent, and as a rookie last year Fannin recorded a team-high 72 catches on 107 targets for 731 yards and six TDs in 16 regular-season contests. With Njoku no longer in the mix, Fannin should have an opportunity to improve on those numbers given the unproven options behind him at the position for Cleveland.

Panthers GM Dan Morgan said Tuesday that Sanders (fibula) has resumed running and making cuts in his rehab and could be ready for the start of OTAs, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Sanders is recovering from surgery to address a broken right fibula suffered in late December. Across 13 regular-season appearances last year, the 2024 fourth-round pick secured 29 of 34 targets for 190 yards and one touchdown. Unless Carolina makes significant additions to the tight end position in the 2026 NFL Draft, Sanders and Tommy Tremble will again operate as the team's top options at the position.

Andrews said Wednesday that he expects "a lot of opportunities in this offense" after fellow tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar left the Ravens this offseason, NFL.com reports.

More help is probably on the way, but so far Baltimore has only signed blocking specialist Durham Smythe to help replace Likely (Giants) and Kolar (Chargers) at tight end. The Ravens also lost long-time fullback Patrick Ricard, who followed Likely and coach John Harbaugh to New York. Andrews, meanwhile, is entering the first season of the three-year extension he signed in December, with his 2026 compensation fully guaranteed and his 2027 salary partially guaranteed ($5 million out of $9 million). The Ravens clearly have him ticketed for a key role under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, but that doesn't mean Andrews will approach his peak volume (or production). He'll turn 31 in September, coming off back-to-back seasons with less than 4.5 targets and 40 yards per game. Even the TD production slipped in 2025, with Andrews posting a 48-422-5 receiving line (compared to 55-673-11 in 2024) while finishing with career-low marks for yards per catch (8.8) and yards per target (6.0).

Las Vegas re-signed Thomas to a one-year contract Tuesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Thomas will run it back with the Raiders after having secured all 13 of his targets for 114 yards across 15 regular-season appearances with the team in 2025. He projects for a blocking role behind Brock Bowers (knee) and Michael Mayer again next season.

Pitts is present for the start of voluntary workouts Tuesday and is signing his franchise tag with the Falcons, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Pitts and Atlanta will still have until mid-July to negotiate a long-term deal, but without one the 2021 first-round pick will have a $15.05 million salary for 2026. The 25-year-old tight end finished 2025 with an 88-928-5 line on 118 targets while suiting up for all 17 regular-season games. Pitts' major task this offseason will be to establish a rapport with new quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who will compete with Michael Penix (knee) for the starting job under center.

Bates signed his exclusive-rights free-agent tender with Cleveland on Monday.

Bates began last season with Houston before the Browns signed him off waivers in late October. The tight end out of Kentucky played in six contests with Cleveland, catching two of three targets for 25 yards. Bates should compete for a depth role next season, but while long-time starter David Njoku was released in March, Harold Fannin (groin) has a strong grip on the Browns' primary tight-end duties.

Jets head coach Aaron Glenn named Taylor (neck) when asked Monday which players he anticipates taking a step forward in 2026, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.

Taylor missed the final four games of last season due to a neck injury, but there have been no indications that he will be hampered in OTAs. Across 13 regular-season appearances during his rookie campaign, Taylor secured 44 of 65 targets for 369 yards and one touchdown, solid totals considering the struggles of New York's aerial attack, which averaged a league-worst 140.3 passing yards per game. The arrival of Geno Smith should provide stability on that front, and Taylor is currently positioned as one of the new QB's top targets along with Breece Hall (knee), Garrett Wilson (knee) and Adonai Mitchell.