NFL Player News

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.

The Browns placed an exclusive rights free-agent tender on Bates on Wednesday.

Bates appeared in nine regular-season games with the Texans and Browns last season, logging four catches for 48 yards on five targets. He'll compete for a job at tight end this offseason.

The Steelers released Smith on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Following a career year with the Dolphins in 2024 in which he caught 88 of 111 targets for 884 yards and eight touchdowns, Smith was reunited with OC Arthur Smith in Pittsburgh via trade last offseason. Despite the familiarity, Smith found himself in a three- and four-way committee at tight end with the Steelers and never seemed to gel with Aaron Rodgers. Across 17 regular-season games, Smith caught just 38 of 54 targets for 222 yards and two scores. He'll likely be looking for a team with a less crowded depth chart. The move saves Pittsburgh $7 million against the salary cap.

The Chargers released Dissly with a failed physical designation Wednesday.

Over his two seasons (playoffs included) with the Chargers, Dissly -- who turns 30 in July -- appeared in 26 games (including 11 starts), combining for 63 receptions for 594 yards and two touchdowns in that span. After catching 50 passes during the 2024 regular season, Dissly, who is evidently dealing with an unspecified injury, logged just 11 catches in nine outings in 2025, a trend that corresponded with rookie Oronde Gadsden establishing himself as Los Angles' top pass-catching tight end.

Morris re-signed with the Jaguars on Wednesday to a one-year contract worth up to $3 million, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports.

Morris made six catches for 55 yards and one touchdown (nine targets) across 14 regular-season appearances with Jacksonville in 2025, after having spent the prior three years handling a depth role in Buffalo. He will continue to primarily contribute as a blocker on offense during the 2026 campaign.

The Falcons officially placed their franchise tag on Pitts on Tuesday, Tori McElhaney of the team's official site reports.

The expected move prevents Pitts from reaching the open market in free agency, while he and the Falcons have until July 15 to negotiate a potential multi-year extension. Per McElhaney, the projected franchise tag value for tight ends in 2026 will be approximately $16 million. The 2021 first-rounder is coming off a 2025 regular season in which he recorded 88 catches for 928 yards and five touchdowns (on 118 targets) in 17 games.

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said Tuesday that the team would like to re-sign Likely, who is an impending free agent, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

Likely enjoyed a career year in 2024, totaling a 42-477-6 receiving line, but a foot injury in training camp to begin 2025 required surgery and he then missed three regular-season games, ultimately finishing the year with career-low marks across the board and a 27-307-1 line on 36 targets. Issues compounding the tight end's struggles included a Baltimore offense that finished the year with the fewest pass attempts in the league, culminating in Jesse Minter replacing John Harbaugh as the team's head coach. If Likely were to re-sign with the Ravens, he would still be sharing snaps and targets with Mark Andrews, who remains under contract through 2027.

Ertz (knee) intends to play in 2026 and is expected to be cleared close to Week 1, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Ertz suffered a torn ACL in Week 14, making it plausible that he could be healthy to begin next season, roughly nine months after his injury. The 35-year-old tight end could also easily start the 2026 campaign on the PUP list, however. An impending free agent, Ertz might need to find a new employer in addition to managing his rehab. Across 13 regular-season appearances with the Commanders in 2025, he secured 50 of 72 targets for 504 yards and four scores. Washington general manager Adam Peters said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine that the team will "keep the door open for sure" regarding re-signing Ertz, but noted that "you can't count on anything," per John Keim of ESPN.com.

The Falcons are expected to designate Pitts with the franchise tag, retaining the impending free agent for the 2026 season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Atlanta will keep Pitts in house via the franchise tag, a one-year exclusive deal worth over $15 million for the 2026 campaign, rather than let the 2021 first-round pick reach the open market as a free agent. NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports that the team wants to retain Pitts via a long-term deal, and the franchise tag will allow both sides until mid-July to negotiate on a potential multi-year extension. New Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski and GM Ian Cunningham appear to consider it a priority to keep around long term Pitts after he broke out with 88 catches, 928 yards and five touchdowns (118 targets) across 17 regular-season appearances in 2025, career-high marks across the board.