NFL Free Agency 2024: Top tight ends available, Colts needs
NFL free agency is upon us, ushering in a dizzying number of players changing teams or staying put with new deals. Here are key dates:
March 5: Teams can designate franchise or transition players.
March 11: Teams and player agents can negotiate.
March 13: Free agent signings begin.
NFL free agent tight ends
Here are the most notable tight ends on the market, including 2023 performance and salary, and profiles.
Players listed in alphabetical order
∎ Gerald Everett, Chargers
2023: The 29-year-old had 51 catches, 8.1 yards per, 3 touchdowns. He played on 56% of the offensive snaps. Salary cap hit: $8.25 million. Profile from Pro Football Focus: Everett earned Justin Herbert’s trust on critical downs and in the red zone over the past two seasons and has forced 28 missed tackles since 2022, the second most among tight ends.
∎ Noah Fant, Seahawks
2023: The 26-year-old had 32 catches, 12.9 yards per, playing on 55% of snaps. Salary cap hit: $6.85 million. Profile from 33rd Team: When given the chance, Fant can be a solid blocker and an explosive pass catcher. … Despite his low volume, he had seven receptions of 20 or more yards.
∎ Mike Gesicki, Patriots
2023: The 28-year-old had 29 catches, 8.4 yards per, and 2 touchdowns. He played 50% of the snaps. Salary cap hit: $4.45 million. Profile from Pro Football Network: He failed to reach 600 yards in 2022 and 2023 combined, but Gesicki can be a weapon in the right offense.
∎ Hunter Henry, Patriots
2023: The 29-year-old had 42 catches, 10 yards per, and 6 touchdowns, playing on 75% of the snaps. Salary cap hit: $15.5 million. Profile from Pro Football Focus: Henry served as one of the few consistent and reliable targets for a New England Patriots passing attack that went through lengthy droughts since his arrival as a free agent in 2021.
∎ Austin Hooper, Raiders
2023: 25 catches, 9.4 yards per, playing on 53% of snaps. Salary cap hit: $2.75 million.
∎ Dalton Schultz, Texans
2023: 59 catches, 10.8 yards per, 5 touchdowns while playing 73% of the snaps. Salary cap hit: $6.22 million. Profile by 33rd Team: Among tight ends, he was 13th in yards per route run and was a solid target over the middle of the field, with most of his work done as an inline tight end. He was also a good target in the red zone: four touchdowns and a 19% target share. He’s considered the best free agent tight end in this class.
∎ Adam Trautman, Broncos
2023: The 27-year-old had 22 catches, 9.3 yards per, with 3 touchdowns while playing 70% of the snaps. Salary cap hit: $1.5 million.
Colts tight end needs
The Colts have three capable TEs in Kylen Granson, Will Mallory and Mo Alie-Cox, though none is considered a threat to opposing defenses.
Source: eu.indystar.com
