NFL Player News

The Patriots are tendering Westover, who was an exclusive rights free agent, Mark Daniels of MassLive reports Monday.

Westover will be under contract with the team for 2026 once he signs his tender. He is used almost exclusively as a blocker at fullback and tight end in addition to contributing on special teams. Westover has one catch in 20 regular-season NFL games.

Manertz is re-signing with the Giants on a one-year contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The Giants have re-signed the veteran tight end rather than allowing Manhertz to hit free agency. He's expected to continue filling a depth role in 2026 after appearing in all 17 games during the 2025 season but contributing just one catch.

Kelce is expected to re-sign with the Chiefs for a 14th season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Kelce weighed retirement this offseason but is now expected not only to continue his playing career for a 14th season in the NFL, but to do so while remaining with the team that selected him in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. The four-time All-Pro has seen his receiving production decline over the past two seasons, across which he's averaged just over 800 receiving yards and four touchdowns, but he remains a key component of Kansas City's passing game and will provide stability for an offense in need of reliability, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) recovering from ACL and LCL tears suffered last December. Per Albert Breer of SI.com, Kelce's deal to re-sign with the Chiefs is not yet official but is actively in the works.

Adkins and the Broncos agreed on a one-year contract Sunday, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports.

Adkins will remain in Denver for a fourth season after having caught six of 11 targets for 48 yards and a touchdown over nine regular-season contests in 2025. The tight end likely will continue to have limited upside on offense next season, operating behind the likes of Evan Engram and Adam Trautman, the latter of whom inked a three-year deal with the Broncos on Sunday.

The Broncos re-signed Trautman to a three-year, $17 million contract Sunday, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports.

A favorite of coach Sean Payton, Trautman has spent time with the head coach in New Orleans and Denver and logged 57 percent of the offensive snaps across 17 regular-season games last season. Trautman doesn't do much on the stat sheet but is a trusted blocker. He secured 20 of 23 targets for 195 yards and one touchdown during the 2025 campaign.

Kelce appears set to return for the 2026 campaign, and the Chiefs are in the mix to re-sign him, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.

Kelce is an impending free agent and has been considering whether to continue his career or retire this offseason. The four-time All-Pro spent the first 13 seasons of his career with the Chiefs, but it's unclear if he'll stay in Kansas City for his 14th season. Kelce racked up seven straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2016 to 2022, and he's totaled 1,674 yards and eight touchdowns while missing just one regular-season game over the last two years. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is recovering from surgery undergone in mid-December to repair ACL and LCL tears, so Kelce will likely be catching passes from someone else Week 1 if he remains with Kansas City in 2026.

Hockenson (shoulder) and the Vikings agreed to a restructured contract Saturday that lowers his cap number for the 2026 season by $5 million, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Minnesota continues to get closer to cap compliance with this move, getting Hockenson's league-high $21.3 million cap hit (among tight ends) down to a more palatable $16.3 million, per Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. Hockenson missed the final two games of the 2025 regular season due to a shoulder injury, finishing it with 51 catches (on 66 targets) for 438 yards and three touchdowns in 15 appearances. He and Josh Oliver (ankle) will continue to operate as the Vikings' top two tight ends in the upcoming campaign.

The Texans signed Schultz (calf) to a one-year, $12.6 million contract extension through the 2027 season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Schultz's contract now contains $17.6 million guaranteed after he set new career highs in targets (106) and catches (82) last season en route to 777 yards and three touchdowns. A reliable safety blanket over the middle for C.J. Stroud, Schultz should remain atop the Texans' depth chart at tight end next season.

Higbee and the Rams agreed on a two-year, $8 million contract Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Higbee will remain with the Rams after just completing his 10th campaign with the team, catching 25 of 36 targets for 281 yards and three touchdowns over 10 regular-season contests in 2025. The 33-year-old will look to compete with Colby Parkinson for the No. 1 role at tight end next season, though Los Angeles has proven to use multiple tight ends often in the past.

Woods re-signed with the Jets on Thursday, Eric Allen of the team's official site reports.

The tight end appeared in four regular-season games for New York last season, catching one pass for four yards. Woods spent the previous two seasons on injured reserve with the Colts due to hamstring and toe injuries.