NFL Player News

The Niners gave Jennings a second-round restricted free agent tender Monday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

This gives the Niners the right to match any offer Jennings receives from another team, with a second-round pick coming back in return if they decline. No team is going to give up a pick that early for the right to hand Jennings a considerable contract, meaning a trade is now the only way he'd end up on a new team for 2024. While he hasn't seen many targets as the No. 3 receiver in a loaded offense, Jennings had Super Bowl MVP hype at one point in the big game when it looked like the Niners might win and he had a passing TD and a receiving score. Fantasy relevance in 2024 seems unlikely if fellow wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel both are on the team and healthy.

Gage (knee) is a free agent after the Buccaneers declined his contract option for 2024, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

Gage signed a three-year, $30 million contract in March 2022 and ended up playing just 13 regular-season games in two years with Tampa Bay. He missed the entire 2023 season after suffering a torn patellar tendon in August -- an injury that's considered one of the toughest to come back from. Gage turned 28 in January and should still generate some interest as a potential third/fourth WR if he's able to continue his NFL career and complete his rehab from the severe knee injury.

The Patriots have informed Parker that they will release him Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The report notes that Parker has been given permission to talk to other teams in the meantime. The veteran wideout is coming off a 2023 campaign in which he caught 33 passes (on 55 targets) for 394 yards in 13 regular-season games. In the wake of Parker's looming departure, JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle), Kendrick Bourne (knee) and Demario Douglas currently head New England's WR corps, with additions to the unit presumably slated to arrive via free agency and/or the draft.

Olszewski re-signed with the Giants on a one-year contract Monday, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Olszewski joined the G-Men last October after being released by the Steelers. Ultimately, he proved to be successful in handling the team's punt return duties, averaging 11.9 yards per return and taking one back for a touchdown in Week 17 against the Rams. He'll now have the opportunity to lock down that role again in 2024.

The Jaguars hope to re-sign Ridley despite reaching an agreement with fellow wide receiver Gabe Davis on Monday, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.

That may be so, but the signing of Davis decreases the odds of Ridley staying in Jacksonville. If the team somehow ends up with both guys, Zay Jones' chances of sticking around for the final year of his contract would be close to nil. Jones has a non-guaranteed $7 million base salary and another $1 million in non-guaranteed bonuses.

Davis (knee) is slated to sign a three-year deal with the Jaguars, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Davis, who is presumably past the knee issue that sidelined him for the Bills' two postseason games, thus is in line to join a Jacksonville wide receiver corps that also includes Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, while Calvin Ridley is poised to become a free agent. If Ridley heads elsewhere, Davis should step into a key role with the Jaguars on the heels of logging 45 catches (on 81 targets) for 746 yards and seven TDs in 17 regular-season outings with Buffalo in 2023.

Pittman has agreed to a three-year deal to remain with the Colts, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The team had previously placed its franchise tag on Pittman, but evidently since then the two sides have been working toward a long-term deal. Per Rapoport, the wideout's looming new contract can reach up to $71.5 million and includes $46 million guaranteed. The 26-year-old is coming off a 2023 regular season in which he posted a career-high 109-1,152-4 line on 156 targets in 16 games. With Pittman staying in the fold in 2024 and beyond, the Colts have secured valuable stability at the wide receiver position, a context that no doubt will benefit the development of young franchise QB Anthony Richardson (shoulder).

Higgins has reportedly requested a trade, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

The Bengals previously placed their franchise tag on Higgins, but Schefter indicates that the wideout is disappointed in the lack of progress toward a long-term contract extension and thus is seeking a new situation. It remains to be seen how amenable Cincinnati will be to his request, and it's still possible that the two sides move toward a resolution that would keep Higgins in the fold in 2024. However, the 2020 second-rounder's future with the franchise is up in the air as NFL free agency approaches.

Bourne (knee) and the Patriots agreed to terms on a three-year deal worth up to $33 million on Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Before suffering a season-ending torn ACL in Week 8 last season, Bourne was easily the Patriots' best receiver. It wasn't a high bar to clear, but it made too much sense to bring Bourne back after he put up a 37-406-4 line on 55 targets across eight appearances. He was on pace for a career year and will head into his age-29 season later this year. Bourne has already stated he expects to be ready for training camp. Look for the Patriots to further address their wideout depth chart in free agency and the draft.

The Saints recently tendered Shaheed a one-year, $985,000 contract, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

The decision to bring Shaheed back at less than $1 million for the upcoming season was a no-brainer for the Saints after the Weber State product proved to be a dependable deep-ball complement to No. 1 wideout Chris Olave in 2023. Shaheed appeared in 15 games this past season, accruing 46 catches for 719 yards and five touchdowns on 75 targets while also carrying seven times for 37 yards. The 25-year-old also was a dynamic weapon on special teams, bringing back 25 punts for 339 yards and a touchdown and 18 kickoffs for 384 yards.