NFL Player News

Pitts signed his franchise tender with the Falcons for the 2026 season Thursday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Pitts thus is locked in for the coming campaign at a salary of $15.045 million. After posting 1,026 receiving yards as a rookie first-round pick in 2021, the tight end has fallen short of 1,000 yards in each of his subsequent four seasons, but he bounced back last year with an 88-928-5 line on 118 targets in 17 regular-season games. Pitts' potential signal-callers for 2026 are Michael Penix (knee) and newcomer Tua Tagovailoa, who will be competing for the starting job during the offseason program through the preseason.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said Tuesday that Kraft (ACL) is "a little bit ahead of schedule" in his recovery from a right ACL tear and that both he and Micah Parsons (ACL) are expected to be "back early in the [regular] season," Andrew Bandstra of Channel 3000 News reports.

Gutekunst previously labeled Kraft ahead of schedule in mid-January, and it appears the tight end's progress has continued on an encouraging track. He noted that Kraft is further along in his rehab than Parsons, which makes sense considering the timing of their respective ACL tears (early Nov. vs. mid-Dec.). Kraft, meanwhile, has stated that he's targeting a Week 1 return. He's entering his age-26 season and the final year of his deal with the Packers, though Gutekunst has confirmed talks regarding an extension are underway. After Green Bay allowed Romeo Doubs to sign elsewhere as a free agent (Patriots) and dealt Dontayvion Wicks in a trade (Eagles), Kraft is facing a clearer path to targets alongside returning wideouts Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden. In eight regular-season games prior to tearing his ACL in 2025, Kraft had emerged as Green Bay's leading receiver with 32 grabs for 489 yards and six scores on 44 targets.

Bell signed with the Steelers on Monday.

The tight end spent time on the practice squads of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia in 2025, though he never appeared in a regular-season game. Bell was a seventh-round pick of the Patriots in 2024, catching two passes (on three targets) for 20 yards as a rookie.

Shorter (undisclosed) was placed on the reserve/injured list by the Raiders on Monday.

It's unclear what Shorter's injury is, but he'll have to reach an injury settlement with the Raiders to have a chance to play in 2026. A fifth-round pick of the Bills in 2023, he saw action in seven regular-season contests with Las Vegas last year, playing on five offensive snaps and 81 special-teams snaps. He has yet to record an NFL catch.

Lauter was waived by the Raiders on Saturday, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.

Lauter joined the Raiders as an undrafted free agent Thursday and was let go just two days later. He had a productive collegiate career at Boise State, so he could get another chance around the league.

Geers signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent Monday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.

Geers played his entire collegiate career with Minnesota and recorded a total of 58 receptions for 518 yards and nine touchdowns. He improved his blocking skills throughout college and is considered a reliable pass catcher, making it possible that he'll compete for a roster spot during training camp.

Njoku will visit the Chargers on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Njoku entered free agency after the Browns cut the veteran tight end in mid-March. He has yet to catch on with another team, but that could change following his visit with the Chargers. Oronde Gadsden emerged as the Chargers' top tight end last season and the team inked Charlie Kolar to a three-year deal in early March, but adding Njoku would give the Bolts another playmaking pass catcher that Justin Herbert could rely on in the passing game. Njoku has struggled with injuries over the past couple of seasons but has been productive when on the field. He finished the 2025 regular season with 33 catches (on 48 targets) for 293 yards and four touchdowns across 12 games.

Mason signed with the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent Friday.

Mason is coming off a senior season with Wisconsin during which he caught 30 passes for 398 yards and four touchdowns. Prior to that, he spent his first three campaigns at Missouri State. Mason is 6-foot-3 with reliable hands, but he isn't particularly quick or agile. Seattle's tight-end corps is led by AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo, and Mason may be headed for a spot on the practice squad.

The Packers signed Maryland as an undrafted free agent Friday.

Maryland started 32 games over four years for SMU, breaking the school's record for receiving yards by a tight end (1,495) despite missing time in 2024 with an ACL injury. The 21-year-old is a young, versatile option with strong upside as a pass catcher who can benefit from mismatches. The Packers already have a deep tight-end room, but Maryland may provide strong replacement value if the injury bug that plagued the 2025 corps reoccurs.

Las Vegas signed Lauter as an undrafted free agent Thursday.

Lauter spent all four of his collegiate campaigns with Boise State and had his best season as a junior, when he caught 47 passes for 619 yards and seven touchdowns over 14 games. The 6-foot-4 tight end took a step back as a senior, however, recording just 330 yards and two TDs on 37 receptions across 13 contests. The Raiders have one of the NFL's best 1-2 combinations at tight end with Brock Bowers (knee) and Michael Mayer, so Lauter probably won't see much game-day action early in his career.