We continue our look at free agency, today tackling tight ends.
Previous installments:
Yuck. That was my first thought when perusing the list of tight ends likely to hit the free-agent market. Almost every list had Mike Gesicki in the top 7 or 8. We just saw Gesicki. He's the furthest thing from a tight end we've seen since Tim Wright (remember him?). And the idea that he'd be some matchup nightmare because of his long limbs and catch radius proved null and void in the 2023-24 Patriots offense for a litany of reasons, including the simple fact that Bill O'Brien didn't trust Gesicki. $4.5 million doesn't go as far as it used to.
Hunter Henry accomplished a rarity in this NFL, playing through the entirety of his second contract, a three-year deal worth $37.5 million. There was no buyer's remorse (as there was with Jonnu Smith), and Henry proved a good leader and a good soldier, even as this last season fell to pieces. He was often one of the first faces you saw at the podium loss after loss, and considering how Bill Belichick threw that mess upon his players, there's value in that.
Henry continues to be an excellent red zone threat, with a half-dozen TD catches, using his athleticism and savvy to create space in tighter areas. He also remains a solid contested catch guy. The initial thought here was to franchise him. But because Henry's cap number ($15.5 million) last year was significantly greater than the tag ($12 million), the 120% rule comes into effect, meaning it inflates the number to $18.6 million. Even in this class, that dollar figure is nonsensical for a good, not great, player. I'd also add that Henry grew tired of the negativity (sorry, bud, but 4-13 is what it is), which makes me wonder if he wouldn't prefer a change of scenery, even with new leadership in New England.
Pharoah Brown was a nice story last year: a giant mass of humanity who inflicted some punishment as a runner and a blocker. Brown's also been here, there, and everywhere during his seven-year NFL career; he is 29. In other words, pump the brakes. The Pats didn't discover the next big thing. He's a journeyman. Useful but extended exposure reveals his flaws (he had problems playing assignment football and route running).
Signed: La'Michael Pettway ($795K/$0 dead cap)
Unsigned: Henry, Gesicki, Brown
IT'S NOT SEXY, BUT WORK WITH ME
1. Henry, Patriots: I sweet talk the hell out of Henry, telling him he's an essential voice in the locker room and even more important for the team on the field. I hope this distracts him from the fact that Wolf will offer him less money than he made on his last deal. The rebuild timeline may not match what Henry wants, but try.
Spotrac estimates $7.5 million over one year. PFF has $12.25 million over two seasons ($8.25 million guaranteed).
2. Brown, Patriots: He has experience playing for Alex Van Pelt in the Kevin Stefanski offense, logging 13 games for the Browns in 2022 (5 catches for 45 yards). It would be nice to have someone with some working knowledge of what the new offensive coordinator wants from the position.
Spotrac estimates $2.6 million for one season.
IF THAT PLAN DOESN'T WORK, COME UP WITH A NEW PLAN
1. Adam Trautman, Broncos: I liked him coming out of college, and when Sean Payton drafted him in New Orleans, it only enhanced my belief in the player. But Trautman has been a disappointment, at least as a pass catcher. He had just 60 receptions over three seasons with the Saints, and though Payton traded for him when the head coach moved on to Denver, the stat line remained similar (22 rec in 2023). Watching his tape, I see a player that should do better. He plucked many errant Russell Wilson passes away from his body and is pretty smooth as a route runner, though better at finding soft spots than beating man-to-man. Trautman is also a sound run blocker. There are a couple of plays where he kicks the defensive end's ass, but generally, he leans and gets in the way enough to be effective. Diamond in the rough?
Here's Payton on Trautman in December: "I know exactly what you're getting. In other words, there are certain things he does well. I think he has a good feel in zone coverage. I think he's a good blocker. I think he's smart. ... and certainly, with Adam. [I] drafted him out of Dayton. We kind of knew exactly what we were getting, and there's something to be said for that.
Spotrac estimates three years for $11.2 million. PFF has him for $8.5 million ($5 million guaranteed) over two seasons.
2. Noah Fant, Seahawks: First, know that you'd be paying for the promise of what he could be, not what he's done. And that could be costly. Does Wolf have the appetite for that? We don't know yet. But this guy was a first-rounder for a reason. He was once thought of as more of a move tight end, but now he's shown some development that says he can handle some in-line responsibilities. He runs well and can run various routes and attack multiple levels of the field. Good catch radius and athleticism. I like him.
PFF has him $24 million over three years, with $14.5 million guaranteed.
I MEAN, YOU GOTTA HAVE SOMEONE PLAY THE POSITION
1. Austin Hooper, Raiders: Once upon a time, Hooper was a highly sought-after free agent, excelling with Matt Ryan in Atlanta. 71 catches in 2018. 75 in 2019. He hasn't come close to replicating those numbers since - he doesn't run nearly as well as he used to - but did get paid by the Browns, so there's that. Hooper's been on three teams in the last three years and still has the smarts to find openings vs. zone. Considering he spent two years in the Stefanski/AVP offense, he wouldn't need much time to get up to speed. The question is: what's left in the tank?
Here's Hooper from 2020 talking about the work he was asked to do in the run game: "If you want to run to the tight end side, you have to have some tight ends who can create a stretch, create movements, and handle their one-on-one matchups. That's a responsibility I definitely don't take lightly because I understand if we want to run an outside zone scheme and pull plays behind me at the point of attack specifically, it has to work with me."
PFF estimates a one-year contract for $2 million ($1.25 million guaranteed). That would be south of what he made in Vegas last season.
2. Geoff Swaim, Seahawks: He's the best run blocker in the class. No doubt. However, he's barely a concern in the passing game. He had 26 catches with the Cowboys in 2018 and 31 with the Titans in 2021. But his regular stat line is 10-12 receptions per season.
He made $1.7 million last season with Arizona. There are no projections for this year.
Best of the rest: Gerald Everett (Chargers), Irv Smith Jr (Bengals), Colby Parkinson (Seahawks), C.J. Uzomah (Jets)
