NFL Player News

Derby faces added competition for a role in Miami's offense following the addition of Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe in the draft, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

Gesicki (second round) and Smythe (fourth round) look like roster locks considering the draft capital needed to acquire them. With that in mind, Derby figures to battle with MarQueis Gray, Gavin Escobar and Thomas Duarte for slotting on the Dolphins' TE depth chart.

Swaim (knee) will likely have competition for the starting tight end spot in Dallas, Drew Davison of The Star-Telegram reports.

The Cowboys added to their already clustered tight end group Saturday by selecting Stanford's Dalton Schultz in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. With Jason Witten no longer in the mix, Swaim will likely compete with the rookie for the starting tight end spot. Swaim hauled in just two catches for 25 yards last season.

Graham believes he can replicate his production from his time with the Saints, noting that he's "still 6-[foot]-7 and can still run a 4.5 [40-yard dash]," Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Graham technically ran a 4.56 40 time while checking in at 6-foot-6, 260 pounds at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine, but there's little reason to doubt the broader idea that he's still one of the most athletic tight ends in the league. The Packers apparently believe that to be the case, as they signed the 31-year-old to a three-year, $30 million contract in mid-March, right around the time veteran wideout Jordy Nelson was released. Green Bay does have a way to get out of the deal after one season, as Graham's $11 million signing bonus is the only fully guaranteed portion of his contract, per OverTheCap.com. Graham was a bit of a disappointment in his three-year run with Seattle, struggling to make an impact near the goal line (eight scores in 27 games) his first two seasons, and then struggling outside the red zone (10 touchdowns, 5.3 yards per target) in 2017. Aaron Rodgers already has strong chemistry with Davante Adams and Randall Cobb, but it isn't unreasonable to think that Graham could push the latter for No. 2 status in Green Bay's passing attack.

Mayle signed his exclusive-rights tender Monday, according to the NFL's official transaction log.

Mayle appeared in all 16 games for the Ravens in 2017 but only saw 21 snaps on offense as his primary responsibilities came on special teams. He currently profiles as Baltimore's No. 3 tight end behind Nick Boyle and Maxx Williams, but that could change depending what the team does in the upcoming draft.

Escobar signed a contract with the Dolphins on Monday, Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald reports.

The Dolphins haven't had a reliable tight end since they let Charles Clay walk in 2015 and will kick the tires on Escobar, a 2013 second-rounder who is yet to live up to his lofty pedigree. Escobar won't provide much in terms of in-line blocking, but he profiles as a dangerous receiving threat and could realistically make a name for himself on a depth chart headed by the uninspiring MarQuies Gray and A.J. Derby.

Kelce is present for the start of the Chiefs' offseason workouts, Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star reports.

Kelce approaches the team's OTAs healthy now that he's well past the concussion he suffered back in January during the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs. The Chiefs' 2017 reception leader (83 on 123 targets) will be working with second-year QB Patrick Mahomes, now that Alex Smith has relocated to Washington. Mahomes' arm strength should allow for more downfield shots in the Kansas City passing game, with the team's wideout corps headed by Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins. The arrival of Watkins should draw some defensive attention away from both Hill and Kelce, which could perhaps make up for some of the target volume the newcomer is liable to soak up.

Escobar was released by Cleveland on Thursday.

Escobar, a second-round pick by the Cowboys in 2013, played only two games for the Ravens last season and did not catch a single target. Praised as an athletic prospect coming out of college, Escobar has struggled to earn a role exceeding rotational depth in his NFL career. The 27-year-old had no guarantees to make the Browns' 53-man roster, and will likely face a similar situation wherever he lands.

Williams signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals on Wednesday, Kyle Odegard of the team's official site reports.

The Cardinals needed more depth at tight end after letting Troy Niklas walk in free agency. Williams, who's now with his fifth organization in three years as a professional, will have a chance to claim the No. 3 role behind Jermaine Gresham (Achilles) and Ricky Seals-Jones. It helps that he's familiar with Arizona's new head coach, Steve Wilks, who was Carolina's defensive coordinator when Williams spent training camp with the Panthers last summer.

Wright signed a contract with the Chiefs on Friday, Adam Caplan of ESPN reports.

Although Wright hasn't appeared in a game in two seasons, the former college wideout was a modestly effective receiver during his first three years in the league, when he caught a total of 13 touchdowns in 41 games for the Buccaneers, Patriots and Lions. However, he'll face heavy competition for a roster spot in Kansas City, as Demetrius Harris, Orson Charles and Jace Amaro will all jostle with him for slotting on the depth chart under the established Travis Kelce.

Vannett is slated for a larger role in the Seahawks offense in 2018, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.

The TE room in Seattle was a revolving door this offseason, with free agents Jimmy Graham (to Green Bay) and Luke Willson (to Detroit) moving on and Ed Dickson entering the mix. Known for his blocking ability, Dickson has averaged 1.4 catches per game during his eight-year career, so he isn't a great candidate to fill the void left behind by Graham and Willson. Among the remaining tight ends on the roster, Vannett has built a rapport with Russell Wilson, however minuscule, in two campaigns with the Seahawks. Increasing his share of the offensive snaps from 7.9 percent on 2016 to 26 percent last season, Vannett has corralled 15 of 19 passes for 156 yards (8.2 YPT) and one touchdown since he was selected in the third round two years ago.