NFL Player News

Eagles coach Chip Kelly believes he can get a lot more out of tight end Zach Ertz, who caught 58 passes for 702 yards and three touchdowns last year. "I still think there's a big jump that can happen between Year 2 and 3," Kelly said, per the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Ertz played just half the snaps last season because he didn't block as well as tight end Brett Celek. With wideout Jeremy Maclin's departure via free agency, Philly could lean more on Ertz's receiving skills in 2015.

Although Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce led the team in receiving in 2014, head coach Andy Reid has even higher expectations for him in 2015, according to the Kansas City Star.

Reid believes that the best is yet to come for Kelce.

“You’d think the natural progression would be even more and better, and he was pretty good last year,” Reid said. “He’s tremendously talented, loves to play the game. He’s like a little kid out there. He loves to play.”

Despite the high praise from Reid, the coach knows that there is still room for improvement for the 25-year-old.

“You could see the progress every week in a positive direction,” Reid said. “We kept adding to his menu there, so the plays we wanted to dial up in formations and motions, the running backs and tight ends, they have to know what they’re doing with those. So he continually got better with that as time went on."

After recording no stats as a rookie due to being placed on injured reserve, Kelce tallied 67 receptions for 862 yards and five touchdowns in 2014, all were team-highs.

The Falcons announced they've signed tight end Tony Moeaki after earlier announcing the signing of tight end Jacob Tamme. Moeaki, 27, played in six games for the Seahawks last season, catching eight passes for 134 yards and a touchdown.

He hasn't made a big impact since 2012, when he had 33 grabs for 453 yards and a touchdown with Kansas City. Moeaki and Tamme join Levine Toilolo in Atlanta's tight end group.

Tight end Travis Kelce led the Chiefs with 67 catches for 862 yards and five touchdowns last season. He's expecting bigger things in 2015 thanks to a healthy offseason.

“Last year, it was a month before (training camp before I could) finally start running routes,” Kelce told the Kansas City Star, referring to the left knee injury that essentially wiped out his rookie season in 2013. “You can only learn so much in the meeting room before you actually have to go out there and do your job.

“This year, I’ve got an entire season under my belt. I’m much more confident, much more durable in terms of my health. It’s going to be fun to play in front of this KC crowd.”

The Chiefs released veteran tight end Anthony Fasano, who caught 25 passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns last year, so Kelce could be an every-down player this fall.

“(Coach Andy) Reid always says next man up," Kelce told the paper. "I was drafted in the third round two years ago to be a tight end in this offense. No matter what happens I’ll be ready, whether I’m the main guy on every single play or a side (option) that helps us get the ball down the field.”

Tight end Jimmy Graham admits he was shocked when he learned Tuesday he was traded from the Saints to the Seahawks, according to 950 KJR in Seattle. Graham signed a four-year, $40 million deal with the Saints last offseason.

"When (Saints coach Sean Payton) told me Seattle, it definitely put a grin on my face," Graham said when he learned of what team acquired him. "I’ve had some battles clearly against their defense the last couple of years. We’ve struggled against them as a team as a whole. It’s probably the one game as a player you always look forward to because they’re always so good and it’s usually a prime-time game.

"So for me it was a moment of shock, but once that shock cleared, I realized that I was going to the best team in football."

Graham has developed into one of the top pass-catching tight ends in the NFL, having finished with at least 85 receptions in four straight seasons. Although, it seems Graham is ready for whatever the coaching staff asks since his numbers might look different in Seattle's run-oriented offense.

"I’m going to do whatever it takes to win," Graham said. "I’m not complaining at all about any of that. I just want to be part of this team and I want to be there in big moment for this team and this franchise to help us win games."

For now, tight end Marcedes Lewis has a job. 

Via ESPN.com, Jaguars general manager David Caldwell said Lewis will not be released, even though the organization just signed Julius Thomas to a five-year, $46 million contract. Lewis will still remain on the roster but he isn't being assured a spot either. 

"He’s going to have to compete to be here," Caldwell said.

Lewis caught 18 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns in 2014. Lewis only played in eight games a year ago due to an ankle injury. 

The Saints have traded tight endJimmy Graham to the Seahawks in exchange for Max Unger and a Seattle first-round draft pick, the teams announced Tuesday. New Orleans will also part ways with their fourth-round selection. The trade is contingent on the players passing physicals.

The Saints called rival executives to shop many of their players recently, including their star tight end, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Media on Tuesday. Graham had his $2.9 million base salary and $5 million roster bonus for the 2015 season become guaranteed last week.

Graham, 28, had 85 catches for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2014, all while fighting off a shoulder injury for most of the season. Over his first five seasons with the Saints, Graham has registered 4,752 yards and 51 touchdowns. Since 2010, only Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (41) has more red zone touchdowns than Graham (40).

>> Want more NFL offseason? >> Mock drafts | Free agency tracker

The Giants re-signed tight end Larry Donnell, an exclusive rights free agent, to a one-year, $585,000 deal, reports the New York Daily News. The 26-year-old is coming off a breakout season in which he ranked third on the team with 63 catches and second with six receiving touchdowns.

Donnell, however, was a subpar blocker who lost four fumbles.

>> Want more NFL offseason? >> Mock drafts | Free agency tracker

Free-agent tight end James Casey is scheduled to visit the Jaguars Wednesday, the Florida Times-Union reports.

Casey has reportedly met with Tennessee, Cleveland, Denver and Arizona and also had visits scheduled with Cincinanti and Washington. He was released by the Eagles in February, saving the team $4 million.

Free-agent tight end James Casey is scheduled to visit the Cardinals later this week, reports 910 AM in Phoenix.

Casey is also scheduled to visit the Broncos on Thursday, reports The Denver Post.

Casey was recently released by the Eagles. In 2014, he caught three passes for 59 yards and two touchdowns.