NFL Player News

Kroft worked with the No. 1 offense throughout the spring and could supplant Chris Herndon (hamstring) atop the depth chart at tight end, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports.

Kroft had an uneventful two years with the Bills before latching on with the Jets in March, and he's had a strong showing so far in the offseason. Kroft caught 12 of 16 targets for 119 yards and three touchdowns over 10 games in 2020, and he's had trouble staying healthy in the past three seasons. Herndon is the assumed starter entering training camp, but he's endured his own struggles and picked up a hamstring injury during mandatory minicamp. If Kroft can stay healthy he may be able to push for the starting role in training camp.

Pitts has signed a four-year deal with the Falcons worth $32.9 million, including $21.2 million guaranteed and a fifth-year team option, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Pitts, who the Falcons took fourth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, is poised to see a key role in the team's passing offense from the get-go this coming season. With Julio Jones no longer in the mix, the 6-foot-6, 246-pounder should be one of QB Matt Ryan's main targets along with Calvin Ridley, now Atlanta's clear-cut No. 1 wideout. It's a context that puts the rookie tight end firmly on the fantasy radar and makes him an upside play to target once the top-tier options at his position (Travis Kelce, George Kittle and Darren Waller) are off the board.

Knox, who's had an up-and-down start to his career since being drafted in the third round in 2019, heads into the 2021 campaign as the clear starter at tight end and has spent extra time working with quarterback Josh Allen in California this offseason as well as a hand-eye trainer, all in an effort to take his game to a higher level, Marcel-Louis Jacques of ESPN reports.

General manager Brandon Beane has been critical of the lack of production from the tight end group, to the point where Buffalo seemed a likely destination for Philadelphia's Zach Ertz this offseason. After not drafting a tight end, the Bills now seem prepared to play out the season with Knox, free-agent signee Jacob Hollister and Tommy Sweeney. While the latter two players will have depth roles, it's clear that Knox will be the pass-catching threat in a high-powered offense. He's had opportunities in the past with mixed results, as a lack of polish in his routes and the occasional bouts with the "dropsies" seem to always offset some of the Gronk-type plays he's capable of making. If Knox can sharpen up his game to match the work he's been putting in while moving past some of the injury issues (he's been hurt on a few occasions and also was out for a spell due to COVID-19 last season), he could prove to be a nice sleeper candidate at tight end. That said, this will always be an offense that relies heavily on its wide receivers, but if defenses overcompensate after having little success against Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley in 2020, Knox could have some extra looks coming his way.

Gray has performed well during offseason workouts and could see a significant amount of playing time both occasionally spelling Travis Kelce and playing in two-tight-end sets, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

The Chiefs selected Gray in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft with hopes of grooming him as a potential replacement for the 31-year-old Kelce down the road. It appears he's off to a good start in that regard, and he could be in line for a good amount of work as a rookie if he keeps it up. Gray finished out his 2020 season at Duke with 29 catches for 285 yards and a pair of touchdowns over 10 games.

Though Fant remains firmly atop the Broncos' tight end depth chart, it remains to be seen whether Teddy Bridgewater or Drew Lock will be the team's Week 1 starter at QB, ESPN's Jeff Legwold reports.

In his third season as a pro, Fant is being counted on to be a big part of the Broncos' passing game, regardless of who earns the team's starting signal caller job. The 2019 first-rounder logged 62 catches (on 93 targets) for 673 yards and three TDs in 15 games last season, numbers that the 6-foot-4, 249-pounder will look to eclipse this season in an aerial attack that should be more balanced thanks to the return of Courtland Sutton from a knee injury, which bolsters a wideout corps that also includes 2020 first-rounder Jerry Jeudy, big-bodied Tim Patrick and KJ Hamler, a second-round pick last year.

Coach Matt Rhule pointed out Thomas has had a "great offseason" earlier this month and suggested he still has a chance to lay claim to the Panthers' starting tight end role, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Thomas posted a promising rookie season back in 2018 but hasn't really followed it up with much of note in each of the last two, finishing out 2020 with just 20 catches for 145 yards and a touchdown. The Panthers signed Dan Arnold and drafted Tommy Tremble this offseason to shore up the position, but it looks like Thomas will still get a fair shake for the starting job and he's put in work this offseason to keep himself in the conversation. This job battle will likely continue into training camp.

Johnson spent time working at tight end this offseason, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Johnson was mostly asked to block when active on game days during his rookie year. The Saints have since talked about moving him from receiver to tight end, and Johnson practicing at that position during spring workouts all but confirms that notion. At 6-foot-4 and 231 pounds, Johnson will probably need to put on a little weight in order to excel as an in-line blocker, but the second-year Oregon product could potentially carve out a significant role as a pass catcher considering the Saints have little receiving talent at tight end behind Adam Trautman.

Asiasi, who caught just two passes in nine games as a rookie last season, "quietly put together a solid spring," according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.

That said, the 2020 third-rounder sits no higher than third on the Patriots' tight end depth chart following the team's offseason additions of Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry in free agency. Asiasi thus profiles as a depth option as the coming season approaches and is off the fantasy radar as long as Smith and Henry are available. Also in the team's TE mix behind the top duo are Dalton Keene, Matt LaCosse and Troy Fumagalli.

Conklin drew praise in spring workouts from head coach Mike Zimmer, the team's official website reports. "It's a bigger role for Tyler Conklin [this season]. He's kind of emerged as a guy that's moving upward, and with those two guys (Conklin and Irv Smith), we have a lot of weapons there," said Zimmer.

With the departure of Kyle Rudolph, Conklin looks set to move up the depth chart and be used next to Irv Smith in two-tight end sets. Conklin had 15 receptions for 168 yards and a score over the last four games when Rudolph was out with an injury, supporting the notion he could carve out a role in the passing offense this season. Still, Conklin may be used more as a blocker with Smith likely to command most of the targets to the position.

Coach Pete Carroll singled Everett out as a potential breakout candiate when asked on Thursday, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.

Per Liz Matthews of USA Today, Carroll indicated that Everett has brought some added speed and route-running ability to the position the Seahawks have been lacking. Everett will have to contend with Will Dissly for reps, but he'll likely be the favorite to stay on the field in single-tight-end sets given the team's investment in him this offseason.