NFL Player News

Brown (illness) will remain with the Browns after the team placed a contract tender on the exclusive rights free agent.

The 25-year-old had a quiet role for the Browns in 2019, suiting up in just nine games, and he accumulated two catches for 27 yards. With the team signing Austin Hooper to the richest contract for a tight end in the league Monday, Brown likely will assume a depth or blocking role heading into the 2020 season.

Hooper is poised to sign a four-year, $42 million deal with the Browns, Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com reports.

Breer notes that the tight end is in line to earn $23 million over the first two years of the deal, all of which is slated to be guaranteed. With Hooper set to join the mix, David Njoku's volume figures to take a hit. Hooper is coming off a 2019 campaign in which he set career highs in catches (75), yards (787) and TDs (six), while playing 13 games. The money Cleveland plans to give him is a clear indication that he'll be a focal part of the team's passing attack in 2020.

The Ravens are trading Hurst and a fourth-round pick to the Falcons in exchange for a second-round pick and a fifth-round pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Atlanta completed the trade shortly after reports emerged of Austin Hooper signing a contract with Cleveland. Hurst has shown flashes of his potential since Baltimore drafted him in the first round two years ago, but playing time was hard to come by on a team with Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle at tight end. Hurst should see far more snaps and targets in Atlanta, joining an offense that's regularly among the most pass-heavy in the league. He should immediately slot in atop the depth chart, ahead of Jaeden Graham and Carson Meier.

The Saints have placed a first-round tender on Hill, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reports.

As expected, New Orleans made the move, which almost assuredly means Hill is in a Saints uniform in 2020. With Teddy Bridgewater expected to move on, Hill will move into the backup job to starting QB Drew Brees. Hill's gadget role in the offense shouldn't dry up, though, after he posted 119 passing yards, 590 yards from scrimmage and nine total touchdowns over the past two campaigns.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Hooper has agreed to contract terms with the Browns, while the tight end told Adam Schefter of ESPN that he's "definitely leaning Cleveland."

The first report presents Hooper to Cleveland as a sure thing, while Schefter's report suggests there's still a small degree of uncertainty. With Green Bay and Washington also rumored to have interest in Hooper, the Browns came out firing with a big offer at the very beginning of the "legal tampering" period that opened at 12 p.m. ET on Monday. This is a pretty strong signal that the new leadership in Cleveland doesn't hold David Njoku in high regard, though Browns general manager Andrew Berry suggested in February that he'd likely pick up the tight end's fifth-year option for 2021.

The Chargers have decided to place the franchise tag on Henry, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The move was expected and signals the team's desire to keep a key playmaker in the fold. The 25-year-old is coming off a 2019 season in which he hauled in 55 passes for 652 yards and five TDs in 12 games. Who will be throwing the talented tight end passes this coming season remains to be seen, however, with the Chargers planning to move on from long-time franchise QB Philip Rivers.

The Buccaneers signed Hudson to a one-year contract Friday, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

Hudson was eligible to be tendered as an exclusive rights free agent, and the Buccaneers have opted to exercise exactly that option. With the team reportedly considering dealing O.J. Howard and/or Cameron Brate, Hudson could be in line for an increased role in 2020. He recorded two catches for 26 yards across nine contests last season.

Kroft and the Bills have come to a mutual agreement to restructure his contract, Nick Shook of NFL.com reports.

Kroft's salary for 2020 is now $4 million with $3.4 million in full guarantees, and he'll become a free agent in 2021 rather than 2022. Shortening the length of his contract by a year while adding guarantees serves as a hint that Kroft, who logged just six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown during his injury-plagued 2019 campaign, will utilize the 2020 season as a "prove-it" audition. He stands to spend the offseason competing for Buffalo's top tight end spot with Dawson Knox.

The Packers released Graham on Thursday.

Graham was among a run of splashes at tight end for the Packers in recent years, accounting for 93 receptions for 1,083 yards and five touchdowns over the past two seasons. At 33 years old, he still has some tread left on the tires and can get a jump on free agency following this move.

The Packers are expected to release Graham on Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

This move has been rumored since the conclusion of the regular season. Once it's made, the Packers will free up $8 million in salary cap on the eve of free agency. Graham will have the ability to sign elsewhere immediately after accounting for 93 catches (on 149 targets) for 1,083 yards and five touchdowns over two modest campaigns in Green Bay.