NFL Player News

The Lions signed Hesse on Monday.

Hesse appeared in three games with Atlanta last season, but across 48 offensive snaps he wasn't targeted. He also played 28 snaps on special teams. Now, Hesse will get a chance to compete for a depth role in Detroit's crowded tight end room.

Carolina waived Pierce on Friday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Pierce agreed to a reserve/future contract with the Panthers back in January, but they decided to let him go after adding talent at tight end in the draft. He'll now look for another chance with a new team.

Adkins will have the chance to win a roster spot in Denver as a depth tight end, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic reports.

Adkins appeared in 10 games for the Broncos in 2023, though he exited Week 18 early with a hamstring injury. Presumably healthy again, he'll look to maintain a spot on the roster as a primarily a special-teams contributor. Also in Denver's tight end mix are fellow returnees Adam Trautman, Greg Dulcich and Lucas Krull.

The Falcons signed Oginni on Thursday.

Oginni links up with Atlanta as part of the NFL's International Player Pathway program. He spent last season with the Chiefs but didn't get a chance to make his NFL debut. At 6-foot-7, Oginni initially began as a tight end but has since changed his position to defensive end.

Davidson (undisclosed) is competing for one of the Bills' final roster spots at tight end this offseason, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reports.

Davidson missed the entire 2023 campaign after the Bills placed him on injured reserve last June. The nature of the 25-year-old's injury was never disclosed, though he looks to be past the issue now that he's being viewed as a candidate for a depth role at tight end. Davidson's primary competition for slotting behind Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox should come from Tre' McKitty and Quintin Morris.

Hockenson (knee) is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn right ACL and MCL, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

Hockenson suffered his knee injury the day after Christmas. According to Lewis, even though Hockenson is making quick progress, the Vikings don't plan to rush him back, and the tight end's status for Week 1 remains in question. There's chance he opens the season on reserve/PUP. If so, veterans Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt are next up on the depth chart.

Ertz could be at risk of losing playing time at tight end to rookie second-round pick Ben Sinnott, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.

Ertz signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Commanders early in the offseason, getting about two-thirds of the money guaranteed. It's backup-level money, but with a good chance at a starting job given the lack of veteran competition in Washington. Sinnott looks like a real threat, however, coming in as a second-round pick after putting up a 49-676-6 receiving line his final season at Kansas State and then running a 4.68-second 40-yard dash time during the pre-draft process at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds. The rookie could steal enough playing time to make Ertz irrelevant for fantasy even if the 33-year-old gets most of the snaps in clear passing situations early on.

The Falcons exercised Pitts' 2025 fifth-year option, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

It's a no-brainer move for the Falcons, even if Pitts, the No. 8 overall pick of the 2021 Draft, is coming off back-to-back disappointing seasons after going over 1,000 yards as a rookie. The hope in Atlanta is that the acquisition of Kirk Cousins coupled with the new coaching staff can help maximize Pitts' abilities. Pitts' figures to be a popular 2024 rebound candidate in both real life and fantasy football.

Kelce and the Chiefs agreed to terms Monday on a two-year extension that makes him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The exact terms of Kelce's new extension have yet to be disclosed, but coming off another Super Bowl title and heading into his age-35 season, Kelce's pay rate will top his position. The four-time All-Pro had logged seven consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards before being held to a 93-984-5 receiving line in 2023, but in Kansas City's four postseason contests he operated in prime form, scoring three touchdowns while never falling below 70 receiving yards. The Chiefs added veteran wideout Marquise Brown (heel) and rookie first-round pick Xavier Worthy this offseason, and both players are capable of taking the top off opposing defenses, which could open things up for Kelce during the 2024 campaign. Those additions may also foreshadow a more aggressive offensive game plan led by star quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Knox signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent Saturday.

After four years at Arkansas, Knox transferred to South Carolina for his fifth-year senior season. He compiled a 37-312-2 receiving line for the Gamecocks. He switched positions from wide receiver to tight end in 2021. Knox joins a tight end room that includes T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt and Nick Muse in Minnesota.