Kraft (knee) said Monday that he is ahead of schedule in his recovery from surgery to repair a torn ACL and hopes to be "bulletproof" by Week 1 of the 2026 season, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Kraft noted that the Green Bay training staff generally recommends a nine-month recovery timeframe to rehab from ACL tears, and the Packers' Week 1 game would be about 10 months post-surgery. The athletic tight end emerged as a leader in the receiving game to kick off the 2025 campaign, recording an impressive 32-489-6 receiving line across his eight appearances. However, the Packers were without wideouts Jayden Reed and Christian Watson for the majority of those contests. Kraft may open training camp on the PUP list, but if he's indeed able to enter Week 1 at full health, he'll project to immediately reprise a key role in what may be an improved aerial attack for the Packers.

Pierre signed a reserve/future contract with the Panthers on Monday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Pierre's sticking around after spending the 2025 season on Carolina's practice squad. Despite underwhelming production from Carolina's tight ends in 2025, Pierre didn't get the opportunity to make his NFL regular-season debut.

Hudson finished the 2025 regular season with 19 catches for 168 yards and two touchdowns on 24 targets.

Hudson recorded exactly 19 catches for a second consecutive season while setting career highs in both games played (15) and touchdowns (two). The seven-year NFL veteran will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason after spending the last three seasons in Cincinnati.

Sample caught 15 of 20 targets for 106 yards and one touchdown and added a three-yard run during the 2025 regular season.

Sample played in all 17 regular-season games for a third consecutive campaign, all of which he finished with between 106 and 163 receiving yards. His three-year, $10.5 million contract with the Bengals runs through Sample's age-30 season in 2026.

Hawes wasn't targeted during Sunday's 27-24 wild-card game win over the Jaguars.

Hawes played 35 percent of offensive snaps compared to 48 percent for Dawson Knox and 44 percent for Dalton Kincaid. Despite the similar playing time, Hawes was far less involved in the passing game, as each of Buffalo's other two tight ends notched three catches. Hawes will continue to fill a role as a highly effective blocker in the AFC divisional round against the Broncos.

Thomas finished the 2025 season with 13 receptions for 114 yards on 13 targets over 15 games.

After spending seven seasons in Carolina, Thomas produced a first down on five of his 13 catches with the Raiders while providing depth and blocking reps behind fellow tight ends Brock Bowers (knee) and Michael Mayer. Thomas, who turns 30 years old in June, will be an unrestricted free agent again this offseason.

Gadsden had three receptions on as many targets for 30 yards in Sunday's 16-3 loss to the Patriots.

Gadsden's pedestrian receiving line was actually good enough for second amongst Los Angeles receiving options in a dismal passing display on the road against New England. The 22-year-old still can hang his hat on overachieving during the regular season, as he produced a 49-664-3 receiving line after being taken in the fifth round of April's NFL Draft. Gadsden never relinquished his grasp on the starting job once he took over for an injured Will Dissly in Week 4. The Syracuse product is in prime position to thrive in his sophomore season when he begins the 2026 campaign as the Chargers' starting tight end.

Henry caught three of five targets for 64 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 16-3 wild-card game win over the Chargers.

Henry's 28-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter was the only touchdown by either team. The tight end tied with Stefon Diggs for the team lead in targets, but Rhamondre Stevenson (75) and Kayshon Boutte (66) both had more receiving yards. Henry has scored in three of his last four games dating back to the regular season, and he'll look to keep rolling in the AFC divisional round, when the Patriots host the winner of Monday's matchup between the Texans and Steelers.

Heyward secured three of four targets for 21 yards and a touchdown while logging 15 carries for 43 yards and two scores over 17 appearances during the 2025 regular season.

Heyward played mostly on special teams in 2025 and wasn't very involved in the passing game. However, he saw some short-yardage work on the ground down the stretch and reached the end zone in two of the team's final four regular-season games. The Steelers had an abundance of options at tight end for most of the season, including Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington (forearm), and it certainly seems possible that Heyward will look for other opportunities as an unrestricted free agent this spring.

Tonges caught one of three targets for 14 yards in Sunday's 23-19 wild-card win over the Eagles.

After top tight end George Kittle exited the game in the second quarter with what is believed to be a torn Achilles tendon, the 49ers opened up more playing time for Tonges to begin the second half. Tonges has operated as San Francisco's third tight end on the depth chart for most of the season, but he's leapfrogged blocking specialist Luke Farrell whenever Kittle has missed time. The 25-year-old Tonges proved to be a viable receiving threat when called upon, averaging 4.8 receptions and 44.8 yards with three touchdowns scored in the six games that Kittle was inactive during the regular season. Assuming he's called upon to replace Kittle in the divisional-round matchup versus the Seahawks next weekend, Tonges should make a fine value play in DFS.