NFL Player News

Paulsen and the Falcons agreed to terms Wednesday on a one-year contract, Will McFadden of the team's official website reports.

After parting ways with Levine Toilolo earlier this offseason, the Falcons found themselves in need of a blocking tight end. Paulsen has never been a prolific receiving threat in his seven-year career -- he recorded a career-high 28 catches for Washington in 2013 -- but is capable in both pass protection and in opening holes for running backs. The 49ers utilized Paulsen almost exclusively as a blocker in 2017, with the 31-year-old drawing just two targets across 144 offensive snaps over 14 games.

Lewis was released by the Jaguars on Tuesday.

The Jaguars previously exercised their $3.5 million contract option for Lewis in 2018, which set the stage for the 2006 first-rounder to return for a 13th campaign with Jacksonville. However, the team changed course following the subsequent free agent additions of fellow tight ends Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Niles Paul. Lewis caught 24 passes for 318 yards and five touchdowns this past season, but at this stage of his career, the 33-year-old's blocking and pass protection are his primary calling cards.

Graham's three-year contract with the Packers is official, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Graham had only eight scores in 27 games his first two seasons in Seattle, then suffered a massive drop off in efficiency (9.1 yards per catch, 5.3 per target) while hitting paydirt 10 times last year. He'll have a shot to put it all together in Green Bay, where he'll join forces with Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams and Randall Cobb in a passing game that no longer has Jordy Nelson around to hog red-zone targets. The 31-year-old tight end isn't the same player he was during his peak years in New Orleans, but Rodgers should help mask the loss of speed and agility. All bets are off if Rodgers gets hurt again and Graham has to play with a backup.

McGrath didn't receive a qualifying offer or minimum tender from the Chargers and has become an unrestricted free agent, per the league's official transaction log.

McGrath spent the past two years with the Chargers, serving primarily on special teams but also logging snaps on offense as a blocking specialist. He'll likely fill a similar role wherever he may land this offseason.

Ertz has restructured his contract with the Eagles, an agreement that will create $5.047 million in salary cap space for the team, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Fellow key cog, right tackle Lane Johnson, also restructured his deal with Philadelphia, with the resulting cap space giving the team added flexibility in free agency. Ertz is coming off a 2017 campaign in which he caught 74 passes for 824 yards and a career-high eight TDs in 14 games. He remains atop the Eagles' tight end depth chart, but who backs him up remains to be seen, with Trey Burton now with the Bears and Brent Celek having been released. In any case, Ertz will remain the team's top pass-catching option at the position, a context that will result in the 27-year-old retaining his status as a quality fantasy option.

Bell (shoulder) is expected to be a limited participant in spring drills starting April 16, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Bell is rehabbing from shoulder surgery he underwent in December. In his third season, Bell made just three catches for 19 yards and zero touchdowns behind Kyle Rudolph (ankle) on the depth chart. As long as Rudolph is on the Vikings' roster, Bell will likely remain a situational, run-blocking tight end.

The Bills extended the exclusive rights tender to Thomas on Tuesday, ESPN.com reports.

Thomas and fellow tight end Nick O'Leary will remain in Buffalo next season. A converted quarterback, Thomas recorded seven receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown in 12 games last season.

The Packers are slated to sign Graham when free agency officially opens Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

This marks the first foray into free agency of the Brian Gutekunst era. Once Graham puts pen to paper on the three-year contract, the Packers will bolster their ranks with one of the better receiving tight ends in the NFL. Although he hasn't surpassed 1,000 yards since 2013, he remains a beast in the red zone, as evidenced by a league-leading 27 targets in the region last season. Such volume translated to 10 touchdowns, which may be his floor working with Aaron Rodgers in 2018, assuming good health.

Engram (ribs) worked out with teammate Davis Webb in February, NJ.com's Ryan Dunleavy reports.

This is only noteworthy because it suggests Engram is in line for a healthy offseason after he missed the final game of his rookie campaign with a rib injury. He avoided any fractures and likely is back to full health with plenty of time to spare before the start of offseason workouts. Engram may have a tough time replicating his rookie-year mark of 7.7 targets per game (No. 3 among all tight ends), but a new coaching staff and the return of Odell Beckham (ankle) should lead to improved efficiency (6.3 yards per target). New head coach Pat Shurmur seemingly wants to give Eli Manning at least one more season as the starting quarterback.

Everett could take on a larger role in his second season, Myles Simmons of the Rams' official website reports. "Gerald is a guy that has a lot of ability," said Rams coach Sean McVay. "I think its continuing to get more comfortable playing the tight end position at the professional level. And we ask a lot of our guys, being able to play in the run and the pass game, and sometimes compete in protection, and Gerald's a guy that I think he's going to attack the offseason the right way and we're hoping to see him continue to improve."

The 44th overall pick in last year's draft, Everett caught 16 of 32 targets for 244 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie, displaying big-play ability with catch-and-run gains of 69, 44 and 39 yards. All three of those plays occurred in the first half of the season, and he had only 45 receiving yards over the final eight weeks. Everett nonetheless may compete for the starting job in training camp, given that incumbent Tyler Higbee, a 2016 fourth-round pick, caught only 25 of 45 targets for 295 yards and a touchdown despite playing all 16 games last season. At the very least, Everett figures to push for more playing time on passing downs, where his lack of size (6-foot-3, 240 pounds) is less of a concern.