NFL Player News

Freiermuth said Wednesday on the Around the 412 Podcast that he wants to stay in Pittsburgh for the rest of his career, per Chris Ward of Steelers Now.

The tight end is in a contract year, following a down 2023 season in which a hamstring injury cost him five games and may have limited his playing time in a few others. He caught nine passes for 120 yards in a Week 12 win over the Bengals and had five catches for 76 yards in a playoff loss to Buffalo, but otherwise Freiermuth had just 23 receptions for 188 yards and two TDs in 11 appearances. He was far more active in the passing game as a rookie (60-497-7) and again in 2022 (63-732-2), and he could be Option B behind WR George Pickens in 2024 after the Steelers hired OC Arthur Smith and traded WR Diontae Johnson to the Panthers. While Smith figures to prioritize the running game, his affinity for multi-TE formations could put Freiermuth in a near-every-down role for the first time (he averaged 42.7 snaps per game in 2021, 46.4 in 2022 and 39.5 in 2023).

The Lions matched the three-year, $12 million offer sheet extended to Wright by the 49ers on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Wright signed an offer sheet that reportedly included $6 million guaranteed, but since he was a restricted free agent, Detroit had the ability to retain the tight end, who plays a key role as a blocker in the run game. The 49ers will now have to look elsewhere for an additional depth behind George Kittle, while Wright gets an improved contract and the opportunity to remain in a scheme in which he's already thrived. Across 14 regular-season appearances in 2023, Wright totaled 13 receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown.

Mason signed a contract with the Chargers on Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Mason has appeared in one game since being selected in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Ravens. He'll now get a chance in Los Angeles with Jim Harbaugh, his college coach at Michigan and the brother of his former coach in Baltimore.

The offer sheet Wright signed with the 49ers as a restricted free agent Friday is reportedly for three years and $12 million, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

Per Birkett, the Lions have five days to match the offer and since Wright was an undrafted free agent, they wouldn't receive draft pick compensation if he departs. If the 25-year-old ends up with the 49ers, he'd be in line to help fill the blocking tight end void behind starter George Kittle created by the free-agent departure of Charlie Woerner.

Wright (forearm) signed an offer sheet with the 49ers on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The Lions extended a one-year, $2.98 million contract tender to Wright ahead of free agency and now have five days to match the 49ers' offer. If not, Wright's deal with San Francisco becomes official. Wright broke his left forearm during Detroit's postseason win over Tampa Bay and finished the 2023 regular season with 13 receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown across 14 appearances.

The Jaguars are slated to sign Deguara to a one-year contract, Jordan Schultz of BleacherReport.com reports.

Deguara spent the last four seasons handling a depth role in Green Bay, where he was drafted in the third round back in 2020. His versatility both as a blocker and on special teams will boost his chances of earning playing time behind Evan Engram, but Deguara peaked with a 25-245-2 receiving line in 2021 and doesn't appear to have much fantasy potential.

Schoonmaker (shoulder) is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and is expected to be ready for training camp, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Schoonmaker is coming off a quiet rookie campaign in which he secured just eight of 15 targets for 65 yards and two touchdowns over 17 regular-season appearances. While the tight end didn't miss any time, it appears the 2023 second-round pick was hampered by a shoulder issue. Another offseason to get acquainted with Dallas' offense and build chemistry with Dak Prescott could allow Schoonmaker to improve his production during the 2024 season, but he figures to remain behind jake Ferguson on the depth chart.

GM John Lynch said Monday that Kittle is recovering from an offseason procedure intended to address a core muscle injury, and that the tight end is on track to be fully cleared by training camp, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Kittle also recently restructured his contract, a move that freed up roughly $10 million in cap space for the 49ers, likely by converting a portion of his base salary for 2024 into a bonus. Across 16 regular-season games last year, the two-time All-Pro secured 65 of 90 targets for 1,020 yards and six scores. Recovery from core muscle surgery shouldn't impede Kittle's ability to participate in on-field reps this offseason, though even if he did sit out a portion of training camp, it wouldn't impact the veteran tight end's status as one of the top fantasy options amid a sparse positional landscape.

Hurst agreed to a deal with the Chargers on Friday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported Thursday that Hurst visited Los Angeles after being released by Carolina on Wednesday. The Chargers' pass-catching corps will look very different in 2024 after Keenan Allen (heel) was traded to the Bears on Thursday, Mike Williams (knee) was released Wednesday, and tight end Gerald Everett departed to the Bears on Tuesday. Hurst missed the final eight games of 2023 due to a concussion and recorded 18 catches on 32 targets for 184 yards and one touchdown.

The Giants have agreed to terms with Manhertz, Darryl Slater of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Manhertz, who turns 32 next month, has logged a total of 26 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns over the course of 120 games since entering the NFL in 2016. While the 6-foot-6, 235-pounder is off the fantasy radar, he does offer value as a blocker and can contribute on special teams. In any case, Manhertz, along with fellow newcomer Jack Stoll, bolsters the Giants' depth at tight end with top pass-catching option Darren Waller considering retirement.