NFL Player News

Eagles quarterback Nick Foles won't lack for targets in 2014. Receivers Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin are under contract, joining receiver DeSean Jackson, tight ends Zach Ertz and Brent Celek and of course running back LeSean McCoy.

Askef if there will be enough passes to go around, general manager Howie Roseman told Birds 24/7 that he's trying to follow Denver's model.

"When you look at how many offensive plays that you have over the course of the season, there’s a lot of opportunities to spread the ball around, get people involved," Roseman said. "I don’t think you have to look further than when you look at the Denver Broncos and how many options they have in their passing game and how big of an advantage that is when you have guys all around the field and you can get different personnel groups and that’s what we’re looking to do. We're looking to be an explosive, dynamic offense and when you talk about the skills that he has, Jeremy, certainly he adds to that group."

Maclin was the latest to sign when he inked a one-year deal Saturday.

When the Saints placed the franchise tag on tight end Jimmy Graham, it was the non-exclusive tag, meaning another team could pry away Graham for two first-round draft picks. That team also would have to sign Graham to an offer sheet the Saints weren't willing to match.

It's highly unlikely, but the possibility is worth noting. By tagging Graham, the Saints have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal with him.

The Saints plan to use their franchise tag on tight end Jimmy Graham before Monday's deadline, reports ESPN.

If that happens -- and the report says it's "no great surprise" -- then Graham is expected to file a grievance against the Saints if they designate him as a tight end. He wants to be paid like a receiver.

The difference in price between the franchise tag for a tight end and the franchise tag for a wide receiver is nearly $5 million. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis has previously stated the team views him as a tight end because "that's where we drafted him, that's where we play him."

The Giants could look at reuniting offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo with one or two of his former players to fill their void at tight end, reports the Newark Star-Ledger.

McAdoo, who coached the Packers tight ends for six seasons in Green Bay before taking over as quarterbacks coach the past two seasons, likes using the tight end in his offense. The Giants cut Brandon Myers this offseason, and the Packers have two free agents on the market in Andrew Quarless and Jermichael Finley, who is trying to make a comeback following spinal fusion surgery last season.

Either one could be in play for the Giants, who only have Larry Donnell and Adrien Robinson on the roster. Bear Pascoe is going to be an unrestricted free agent.

Lions tight end Joseph Fauria, a 6-foot-7 red-zone threat as a rookie, should have a bigger role in the 2014 offense, general manager Martin Mayhew told MLive.com. "I think Matthew [Stafford] had a comfort level with him in the red area more so than in the field," Mayhew said.

"And then the offensive coordinator feeling comfortable to create opportunities for him to get the ball. So, it'll be a process. He certainly has the talent level to suggest he can be more productive in the field than he has been."

Seven of Fauria's 18 catches went for touchdowns. If the Lions don't re-sign Brandon Pettigrew, Fauria could see a major spike in playing time. Fauria played fewer than a quarter of the snaps last season due to his weakness as a blocker, the report said.

Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew, an impending free agent, "might benefit from a change in scenery while addressing an obvious need" with the Jets, reports USA Today. New York needs to give quarterback Geno Smith more weapons, and Pettigrew would be an upgrade at tight end even if Jeff Cumberland returns as expected.

The Saints and tight end Jimmy Graham are "still millions apart annually" in their contract talks, reports NFL.com. If the sides don't close the gap, look for New Orleans to slap the franchise tag on Graham by March 3.

Fox Sports reports New Orleans is willing to pay Graham more than $9 million annually. Graham, however, wants to be paid like a star wideout.

Colts tight end Dwayne Allen, who's rehabbing from October hip surgery, is expected to be ready for the start of training camp, reports the Terre Haute Tribune-Star. Allen anticipates being medically cleared well before then.

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett doesn't expect tight end Jason Witten to lose any playing time to second-year Gavin Escobar in 2014, reports ESPN.

"Witt's a great football player and has been for a long time, a Pro Bowler again last year," Garrett said. "In my opinion, our opinion, the best tight end in football and has been for decades. Witt's certainly going to be a big part of what we do with our offensive football team. But that doesn't mean Gavin can't be more involved."

Witten had 73 catches for 851 yards and eight touchdowns in 2013. Escobar had just nine catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie.

New Lions coach Jim Caldwell called free agent tight end Brandon Pettigrew a big and talented player who excels as a blocker and receiver, but was vague about whether the team will try to re-sign him.

“We’ve got to look at every option and that’s one of the things,” Caldwell said, per ESPN.com. “We’ve got to have contingencies for every single thing and that’s one of the things. We have to have contingencies for every single thing so we look at it on both sides of it and see how things work out.”