NFL Player News

Henry (knee) has agreed to a three-year deal to remain with the Patriots, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports.

Prior to missing the final three contests of the 2023 regular season due to a left knee injury, Henry caught 42 passes (on 61 targets) for 419 yards to go along with a team-high six TD receptions in 14 games. With the 2016 second-rounder set to stay put, the Patriots will enjoy valuable stability at the tight end position in the initial stage of Jerod Mayo's stint as New England's head coach. Regardless of who ends up as the starting QB for the team in 2024, Henry -- who will presumably be past his knee issue by the time on-field activities resume -- is set to reprise his key pass-catching role, a context that should result in the 29-year-old maintaining a degree of weekly fantasy utility this coming season.

Henry (knee) is finalizing a deal to stay with the Patriots, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Henry completed a three-year, $37.5 million contract with New England and would've been eligible for free agency next week. He'll instead stick around under a new coaching staff, after averaging 44.3 catches for 510.3 yards and 5.7 TDs on 65.0 targets in his previous three years with the Patriots. The 29-year-old tight end figures to keep his starting job but doesn't figure to have much fantasy appeal in an offense that's expected to either have a rookie or journeyman veteran under center to start the season. There's been no indication of Henry needing surgery on the knee injury that cost him the final three weeks of 2023 -- his only absences since 2020, when he was still with the Chargers.

The Lions are slated to extend a contract tender to Wright (forearm) ahead of NFL free agency, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

The report notes that by offering Wright, who is a restricted free agent, a right of first refusal tender of $2.985 million, the Lions will retain the right to match any contract the tight end signs. Wright is bouncing back from a broken left forearm that he sustained in the postseason and coming off a 2023 season in which he caught 13 passes for 91 yards and a TD in 14 regular-season games while working behind outstanding rookie Sam LaPorta.

Smith and the Dolphins agreed to terms Thursday on a two-year contract worth up to $10 million, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Smith provides Miami with a pass-catching complement to blocking specialist Durham Smythe at the tight end position, giving this offense another layer in the receiving game alongside wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Last season with Atlanta, Smith logged a career-best 50-582-3 receiving line on 70 targets while working alongside Kyle Pitts. Heading into his age-29 season, Smith could be an under the radar fantasy stash due to his speed and potential fit in coach Mike McDaniel's offensive scheme, especially if he's able to establish himself as the Dolphins' clear starting tight end.

Woods (hamstring) looks healthy in a recent workout video he posted, according to James Boyd of The Athletic.

The 2022 third-round pick had a promising rookie season with 25 catches for 312 yards and three touchdowns on 40 targets while splitting TE snaps with Mo Alie-Cox and Kylen Granson. There was some thought Woods would take on a larger role in second pro season, but then he injured his left hamstring in training camp and didn't get it right until the middle of the season, at which point his right hamstring started to bother him and kept him on injured reserve for the rest of the season. Woods is one of the tallest tight ends in the league (6-7) and ran a 4.61-second 40-yard dash at 259 pounds at the 2022 NFL Combine.

Waller said Wednesday that he's still undecided on retirement but will make a decision "pretty soon," Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

While he doesn't expect to decide before the start of the 2024 league year March 11, the 31-year-old tight end said he doesn't want it become "this drawn-out thing" and will give the Giants time to adjust if they end up needing to replace him. If he waits too long the team might take the decision out of his hands, as Waller doesn't have any guarantees remaining on his contract and is scheduled for at least $12 million in compensation each of the next three seasons. The Giants can free up $11.625 million in cap space by declaring Waller as a post-June 1 release, though multiple reports have suggested they'd rather have him back. The tight end was on pace to catch 85 passes for 923 yards through seven games in 2023 before a Week 8 hamstring injury derailed his season and led to a third straight year with at least five missed games. He had 2,341 yards and 12 TDs in 32 games between the 2019 and 2020 seasons, compared to 1,605 yards and six TDs in 32 games over the past three years combined.

Prince (undisclosed) re-signed with the Chiefs on Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Prince ended last season on the Chiefs' practice squad injured list, but he can likely be considered fully healthy with Kansas City keeping him on board ahead of its offseason program. The 26-year-old tight end has yet to make his NFL debut since going undrafted out of UAB in 2022.

Ertz and Washington agreed to terms Wednesday on a one-year contract worth up to $5 million, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Ertz replaces Logan Thomas as a capable veteran atop the Commanders' tight end depth chart. He arrives in Washington with existing familiarity with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's scheme from their time together in Arizona, where Kingsbury served as head coach from 2019 through 2022. As a result of ending last season on Detroit's practice squad, Ertz is eligible to ink a new contract before the start of the new league year March 13. Across seven games with the Cardinals last season before he was released in November, Ertz secured 27 of 43 targets for 187 yards and one touchdown. Depending on how Washington addresses its quarterback situation this offseason, Ertz could carry some fantasy value for the 2024 campaign as a volume play.

Smith visited the Dolphins on Tuesday and is negotiating a contract with the team, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The Falcons released Smith last week, allowing him to sign with a new team before March 11, when players on expiring contracts can start negotiations. His early release means he won't count in the 2025 draft pick compensation process, though the 28-year-old tight end isn't expected to sign a big enough contract to have a major impact in that regard anyway. However, if he signs with Miami, Smith would be a threat to take the starting job away from Durham Smythe, who played 785 snaps last season but was targeted only 43 times (35 catches for 366 yards and no touchdowns). The addition of a faster tight end like Smith might encourage head coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to send more targets to the position, though there's not a ton of extra room for volume when wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle both are available.

Muse re-signed with the Vikings on Tuesday.

Muse was set to be an exclusive rights free agent, but he was able to come to an agreement with Minnesota before the start of the new league year. The 25-year-old tight end only appeared in two games last season, making one catch for 22 yards on his lone target.