NFL Player News

The Browns selected Bryant in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 115th overall.

New head coach Kevin Stefanski is known for his love of tight ends, so addressing that position on Day 3 is not a surprise. Bryant was in the running for the top billing at tight end in this class before a disappointing combine dropped his stock. He's undersized at 6-foot-4 and 243 pounds with 4.73 speed, but his production at Florida Atlantic suggests there are some tools to work with. He caught 65 of 100 targets for 1,004 yards and seven touchdowns in 2019, making him the only tight end in the nation to cross the 1,000-yard mark. Austin Hooper is the clear starter at tight end for the Browns, but the Bryant selection could be a signal toward David Njoku's days being numbered in Cleveland.

Graham is viewed by Bears general manager Ryan Pace as the pass-catching tight end after the team drafted Cole Kmet in the second round, reports Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-TImes.

When discussing the tight end roles on the team, Pace explained that Kmet will be the Y tight end, meaning he'll be placed on the line of scrimmage to block frequently while Graham will be the pass-catching U tight end, who will function as a slot receiver. Assuming this equation doesn't change before September, Graham will be the tight end with the most fantasy value, though after averaging 540 yards and 2.5 touchdowns over the past two years with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, it's unlikely that Graham will be a top-12 fantasy option at the position.

The Saints selected Trautman in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 105th overall.

Trautman arrives to New Orleans -- following the team's draft day trade with the Vikings -- from the small school ranks, but the former Dayton standout brings a legitimate NFL frame at 6-foot-5, 255 pounds. He also possesses uncommon quickness (6.78-second three-cone drill), though his 4.8-second 40-yard dash implies limited seam-stretching ability. For a relatively big tight end, Trautman could prove a nifty underneath target once Jared Cook's tenure with the Saints concludes.

The Patriots selected Keene in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 101st overall.

Keene (6-foot-4, 253) posted modest volume at Virginia Tech, but his per-target efficiency was off the charts thanks to his standout work after the catch. Even though many of Keene's touches were manufactured on screens, it's worth noting that he has the sort of athleticism that encourages steady touches -- his 4.71-second 40, 34-inch vertical, 125-inch broad jump and 11.26 agility score give him an athletic profile very similar to Austin Hooper's. Keene is also very young -- the fact that he just turned 21 in April indicates plenty of developmental upside. Keene is a candidate to outplay fellow third-round tight end Devin Asiasi, whom the Patriots selected 91st overall.

The Packers selected Deguara in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 94th overall.

Deguara is somewhat undersized for a tight end but has impressive athleticism to match his notable collegiate production. The Cincinnati product caught 77 of 137 targets for 927 yards and 12 touchdowns over his last two years with the Bearcats. At the combine, Deguara ran a 4.6 40-yard dash at 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds. He also had strong shuttle and jump scores. With Jimmy Graham gone, Deguara could compete with second-year pro Jace Sternberger for the starting tight end role in Green Bay. However, it appears he will line up all over, as according to GM Brian Gutekunst, Deguara will likely be used "in the slot, back as a fullback, (and as) an H-back."

The Patriots selected Asiasi in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft, 91st overall.

Asiasi (6-foot-3, 257) was a one-year wonder at UCLA who didn't do anything until his age-22 season, but that one campaign was very productive (44 receptions for 641 yards and four touchdowns on 70 targets). He also showed above-average athleticism at the combine, running a 4.73-second 40-yard dash on a dense frame. With New England's tight end depth chart non-existent otherwise, Asiasi could be an immediate starter.

The Bears selected Kmet in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 43rd overall.

Kmet (6-foot-6, 262) bears substantial resemblance to fellow former Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph. Kmet is probably a bit more athletic though, with his 4.7-second 40-yard dash and 37-inch vertical indicating considerable pass-catching upside that Rudolph doesn't possess. Kmet could prove Chicago's top tight end from Day 1, even with Jimmy Graham paid an awful lot ($16 million over two years).

Hollister has signed his tender with the Seahawks, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.

The Seahawks originally placed a second-round tender on Hollister, so it's not much of a surprise that no other team was willing to meet that price. Seattle traded for the 26-year-old tight end last season, sending a seventh-round pick to the Patriots. He ultimately was elevated to the 53-man roster prior to Week 6 and ended the year with 41 receptions for 349 yards and three touchdowns across 11 games. It may be harder to see playing time this season, as he will compete for snaps with the newly acquired Greg Olsen and the returning Will Dissly (Achilles).

Holtz has officially signed his exclusive-rights tender with the Bears, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Holtz played 14 games for the Bears last season and started seven of them. He was used mainly as a blocker but did log seven receptions for 91 yards. His role is not expected to be expanded in 2021, as the team brought in veteran Jimmy Graham for No. 1 tight end duties.

Hill didn't sign an offer sheet before the passing of Friday's deadline and will remain with New Orleans for the 2020 season, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com reports.

The 29-year-old has yet to officially sign his contract tender, but he's no longer able to negotiate with other teams. The Saints placed a first-round tender on Hill in March, which will be worth $4.641 million for the upcoming season. He's set to serve as New Orleans' backup quarterback behind Drew Brees following the departure of Teddy Bridgewater via free agency, but Hill is still expected to work in the gadget role he's become known for.