NFL Player News

The Giants waived Searight (suspension) on Monday, Paul Schwartz of New York Post reports.

Searight spent the season on the Giants' injured reserve with a hamstring injury, and he was handed a four-game suspension in October for violating the league's performance-enhancing drugs policy. The tight end has yet to play an NFL snap, and he'll aim to carve out a reserve role with another squad.

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said Hooper will be allowed to test the open market, Jason Butt of The Athletic reports.

Dimitroff didn't explicitly rule out the possibility of re-signing the tight end, but it seems like a long shot if the team isn't even willing to use a franchise tag for approximately $10.7 million. Hooper should be able to reach that number for his average annual value on a long-term contract, coming off a breakout 2019 campaign with 787 yards in 13 games. The Falcons have a tough cap situation, but there are plenty of other teams with ample space and a need for a pass-catching TE.

Helm did not receive any playing time after being signed late in the 2019 season.

Helm was signed from the practice squad in December following Garrett Celek's placement on IR. The latter has decided to retire, so there is a chance the undrafted rookie sticks with San Francisco if the team liked what they saw in practice during his rookie campaign. Helm wasn't much of a receiving threat at Duke, so his fantasy upside is limited, especially if he remains on the back end of a roster.

Dwelley finished with 15 receptions (22 targets) for 91 yards and two touchdowns in 2019.

Dwelley won the backup tight end job out of training camp, and he was able to find the end zone twice while filling in for starter George Kittle. The latter gets banged up frequently, but also has a high tolerance for pain and has missed the minimum amount of games through is impressive three-year career, leaving scraps for other tight ends on the roster when active. The 49ers have exclusive rights to Dwelley this upcoming offseason, and it would be surprising if they passed up on the 25-year-old after his strong year as a backup.

The Patriots and Jaguars are interested in acquiring Hurst from the Ravens, Eugene Frenette of The Florida Times-Union reports reports.

The 2018 first-round pick reportedly wants an opportunity to catch more passes, after averaging 28.6 offensive snaps and 2.4 targets per game in 2019. He may be underutilized in Baltimore, but Hurst's well-rounded skill set makes him a valuable backup to both Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle in the Ravens' TE-heavy offense. It's a luxury the team can afford for the time being, though an offer of an early draft pick or a starting-caliber defensive player might persuade the Ravens to sacrifice some TE depth for the potential to score a significant upgrade at another position. Jacksonville and New England are obvious fits for any pass-catching tight end that becomes available this offseason.

The Seahawks "fully expect" Dissly (Achilles) to be healthy in time for Week 1 of the 2020 season, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Dissly suffered a torn Achilles' tendon in early October, marking the second consecutive campaign in which he sustained a season-ending injury. Though the 23-year-old still has a long road ahead in his recovery, he appears to be making significant progress and has a real shot at returning to full health in time for the 2020 opener. With Seattle having inked veteran tight end Greg Olsen to a one-year deal, however, Dissly could have to settle for a smaller role than he enjoyed the past two seasons prior to getting hurt.

Hollister may still fit in the Seahawks' plans, despite the team's recent signing of Greg Olsen, Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Traded from New England to Seattle last spring, Hollister opened the 2019 campaign on the practice squad and eventually stepped in as the No. 1 tight end after Will Dissly tore his Achilles' tendon in October. Hollister caught 41 passes over the final 10 games of the regular season, but he averaged just 8.5 yards per catch and 5.9 per target, with a long gain of 22 yards. Olsen should now step in as Russell Wilson's favorite tight end, while Hollister likely will occupy a depth role if the Seahawks keep him around. The 26-year-old becomes a restricted free agent in March.

Dissly (Achilles) is in danger of losing his No. 1 tight-end job after Greg Olsen signed with the Seahawks, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Dissly seems to be making solid progress in his recovery, and it's possible that he'll be ready for Week 1. Still, with back-to-back, season-ending injuries -- he suffered a patella tear in 2018 -- over his first two years in the league, there are legitimate questions about whether he can return to his former production. The 23-year-old tight end has recorded 418 receiving yards and six touchdowns over 10 career games, and even if he gets back to full strength, Olsen's arrival lowers Dissly's ceiling.

Firkser agreed to terms on a one-year contract extension with the Titans on Thursday, Paul Kuharsky of 104.5 The Zone Nashville reports.

Despite operating as Tennessee's No. 2 tight end behind Jonnu Smith last season, Firkser was a key contributor for the Titans and has been rewarded with another offseason to develop with the team. He hauled in 14 of 24 targets for 204 yards and one score across 15 regular-season games in 2019, in addition to hauling in a 22-yard touchdown during the AFC Championship Game loss to Kansas City. He was set to become an exclusive rights free agent this offseason.

Hill said he'll leave New Orleans if he doesn't eventually get a chance to start at quarterback, Rob Maaddi of The Associated Press reports.

Hill presumably understands that he won't have a shot at the starting job until Drew Brees decides to retire, something that hasn't officially been determined but doesn't seem likely to happen this offseason. Hill may be hinting at a desire to replace Teddy Bridgewater -- an impending free agent -- as the No. 2 quarterback, though it would be tricky for the 29-year-old to take on that responsibility while also handling his accustomed roles as a gadget player on offense and a member of multiple special teams units. For what it's worth, former Saints special teams coach Mike Westhoff told Zach Gelb of CBS Sports Radio that he expects Hill to be the eventual successor to Brees in New Orleans. Hill is scheduled to become a restricted free agent this offseason, and the Saints presumably will use a first- or second-round tender to provide some protection from offer sheets.