NFL Player News

Swaim is staying with the Titans on a one-year contract, John Glennon of BroadwaySportsMedia.com reports.

The new league year hasn't even started and the Titans have already lost TE Jonnu Smith and WRs Corey Davis and Adam Humphries. Retaining Swaim won't change much for the passing offense, but it does give the team a competent blocker alongside passing-down specialist Anthony Firkser. The 27-year-old Swaim has 57 catches in 53 NFL appearances, including just nine in 10 games for the Titans last season.

Henry is signing a three-year, $37.5 million contract with the Patriots, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The Patriots add another big name to their long list of free-agent acquisitions, a group that also includes fellow TE Jonnu Smith and WRs Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor. The addition of Henry points to frequent use of multi-TE formations, which could be part of a run-first offense if Cam Newton is still the starting QB. This isn't the best landing spot in terms of Henry's 2021 fantasy value, but partnering with Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels could nonetheless prove wise long-term.

Smith has agreed to a four-year, $50 million deal with the Patriots, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Per the report, $31.25 million of Smith's deal is fully guaranteed. This aggressive move by the Patriots provides a major upgrade for the team at the tight end position. Smith, who caught 41 of his 65 targets for 448 yards and eight TDs in 15 games with the Titans last season, immediately ascends to the top of a depth chart that currently also includes Ryan Izzo, Devin Asiasi, Dalton Keene and Matt LaCosse. Of that group, Smith profiles as the clear-cut top pass catcher and should provide QB Cam Newton with a much-needed red-zone weapon in 2021.

The Saints are restructuring Hill's (knee) contract into a voidable four-year, $140 million extension, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The grand total of Hill's extension appears enormous, but with all years being voidable it essentially serves as a means for the Saints to clear up cap space and potentially move dead money into future years. The restructure comes following the announcement of Drew Brees' retirement, a development which gives Hill's spot on the roster a new context, even if it wasn't completely unexpected. With Jameis Winston currently set for free agency, Hill stands atop the Saints' quarterback depth chart. In the four games he filled in for Brees last season, Hill averaged 209 passing yards, one passing touchdown and 0.5 interceptions per contest. He also boosted his totals with an average of 52 rushing yards and one score on the ground per game, numbers which would extrapolate to a high-end fantasy season across 16 starts. Of course, it seems probable that Hill will face some form of real competition for the No. 1 gig, whether Winston re-signs or New Orleans brings in another option.

The Lions released James on Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

James had the two worst years of his career in Detroit, logging just 142 and 129 receiving yards in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Wherever he next lands, James should at least benefit from not working behind T.J. Hockensen, which could potentially allow the tight end to reprise production levels similar to what he once recorded in Pittsburgh. From 2016-18 with the Steelers, James strung together three straight seasons with at least 300 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Smith won't receive a franchise tag, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Smith and Hunter Henry profile as the top free-agent TEs this offseason, likely targeting deals around $10 million per season. Smith is a reliable blocker and receiver who excels after the catch, though his route tree in Tennessee largely focused on the flats and short crossing routes. A change of scenery might come with the opportunity to expand his role as a pass catcher.

The Chargers won't use their franchise tag on Henry, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

Doing so would have resulted in a cap hit for Henry that would have been close to $13 million. Popper notes that the Chargers still figure to be looking to re-sign the tight end to a long-term deal, but unless that happens in short order Henry will be able to explore other options once free agency opens next week.

Andrews and the Ravens have had preliminary discussions about a contract extension, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

Four of the Ravens' starters on offense come from the 2018 draft class, with Andrews (third round) joined by QB Lamar Jackson (first), OT Orlando Brown (third) and C/G Bradley Bozeman (sixth). Jackson is obviously the priority among that group, but his status as a first-round pick gives the Ravens a fifth-year contract option. Andrews, Brown and Bozeman, on the other hand, can all become free agents during the 2022 offseason. Brown wants to be traded to a team that will permanently move him from right tackle to left tackle, so it won't be any surprise if Andrews is the first guy to get an extension. The tight end isn't a great blocker and has committed more than his fair share of drops the past two years, but he's also one of the top playmakers at his position, sitting on 2,105 receiving yards and 20 TDs through 45 regular-season games.

Dwelley signed a one-year extension with San Francisco on Friday.

Following three solid seasons in San Francisco to start his career, Dwelley has demonstrated enough to earn an extension. The 26-year-old filled the No. 2 tight end role behind George Kittle in 2020 and played significant snaps during the latter's eight absences, catching 19 of his 24 targets for 245 yards and a touchdown.

The Browns tendered Carlson as an exclusive rights free agent Friday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Carlson entered the offseason as an exclusive rights free agent and will now stay in Cleveland. Through his two seasons with the team, the tight end has caught six of his nine targets for 62 yards and one touchdown.