NFL Player News

What It Means

The move ensures that Pitts, the eighth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, will remain under contract with the Falcons through the 2025 season. The athletic pass-catcher suffered through a pair of injury-influenced down seasons in 2022 and 2023, but it feels fair to assume 2024 could be the best season of the young tight end's career.

Pitts amassed over 1,000 receiving yards as a 21-year-old rookie, joining Mike Ditka's rare company as the second tight end to ever accomplish the feat in their first season. He could recapture that upside in 2024 after the Falcons upgraded from Desmond Ridder to Kirk Cousins at quarterback.

Cousins has historically peppered his tight ends with targets when possible. Before his injury last season, he and Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson were averaging 6.6 catches for 59.8 yards and 0.4 touchdowns per game together. Pitts could thrive with similar volume in Atlanta.

What It Means

Gallup had been lingering on the free agent market, but now appears set to sign with the Raiders for the upcoming season. The Raiders' offense already has Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers under contract, so it would seem that Gallup would be in line for the team's WR3 job as long as he's healthy.

The former third-round pick appeared to be on the ascent after his breakout second season with the Cowboys, but suffered a tough knee injury that seemed to stymy his ability to produce. He's been kept under 450 yards in each of his last 3 seasons and has averaged 30 or fewer yards per game in each of his last 2. Hopefully the change in scenery and offensive scheme can help him find his playmaking ability again for 2024.

What It Means

The Cowboys entered the 2024 NFL Draft with a pretty clear need at running back and did nothing to address the need during the event. Instead, as rumors implied they would, the team is now working towards re-signing Elliott for the season, pending a physical examination.

Elliott spent his 2023 season operating as the Patriots' lead back, taking over for a banged up Rhamondre Stevenson throughout the year. He had few opportunities for big games in the Patriots' brutal offense, but still showed he can handle a full workload.

Elliott twice led the league in rushing while with the Cowboys and should see heavy work this season as he takes over a backfield of Malik Davis, Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn.

What It Means

Fresh off winning a third Super Bowl in Kelce's tenure with the team, the Chiefs are making moves to keep Kelce under contract for the near future. Kelce again led the Chiefs in receiving during the 2023 NFL season, with 93 receptions for 984 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Though Kelce's regular season production dipped from previous seasons, he turned it back on during the playoffs, catching 32 passes for 355 yards and 3 scores across four games.

The Chiefs bolstered their receiving room ahead of the 2024 season, acquiring veteran field-stretcher Marquise Brown and drafting rookie wideout Xavier Worthy with a first round pick just last weekend. Even with increased competition for targets, Kelce should remain among the top tight ends in fantasy for the upcoming year.

What It Means

The Panthers were slated to open up Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft with the 33rd overall pick, but decided to jump back into the first round in last minute a trade with the Buffalo Bills. They used the 32nd overall pick to select Xavier Legette out of South Carolina.

Legette broke out for the Gamecocks this past year, flashing exciting athleticism on tape while recording 71 catches for 1,255 yards and 7 touchdowns. He was the engine of South Carolina's 2023 offense and could slot in as the Panthers WR1 as early as Week 1.

Legette's on-tape athleticism matched his testing at the NFL Combine, where he sprinted to an elite 4.39-second 40-yard dash. The 6'1", 220lb is a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands and could give the Panthers some much needed yards-after-catch ability a year after 2023 first overall pick Bryce Young's receivers finished dead last in YAC per reception (4.1 yards).

What It Means

In something of a surprising move, the 49ers selected Gators wideout Ricky Pearsall with the 31st overall pick. The selection does help explain some of the rumors circulating earlier in the week about the availability of Brandon Aiyuk via trade.

Pearsall had a breakout 2023 season, corralling 65 catches for 965 yards and 4 touchdowns for the Gators. He showed off elite athleticism at the NFL Combine, including a blazing 4.41-second 40-yard dash and an eye-popping 6.64-second time on the 3-cone drill.

Pearsall could be an excellent fit in the 49ers' YAC-friendly offense. How he'll fit into the wide receiver room remains to be determined.

What It Means

Worthy made an impact as soon as he stepped on the field for Texas, leading the team in receiving with 62 catches, 981 yards and 12 touchdowns. He remained productive throughout his three seasons with the Longhorns, finishing his collegiate career with 2,755 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns on 197 receptions.

Worthy's performances on the field were impressive in their own right, but the stud playmaker caught the entire league's attention when he broke the NFL Combine 40-yard dash record. His 4.21-second dash topped former first round pick John Ross' 4.22 time, making him the fastest prospect in Combine history. His skill set could be a fantastic fit for an NFL that has increasingly valued speed in recent seasons.

Few teams have a more well-known appreciation for speed than the Chiefs. They traded up from the 32nd overall pick to make sure they could draft Worthy, adding him to a wide receiver room already containing speedster Marquise Brown. We could see a return to deep passing from the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs in 2024.

What It Means

The Jaguars signed former Buffalo Bills receiver Gabriel Davis to a lucrative deal in the offseason, but did not let that stop them from drafting speedy LSU wideout Brian Thomas Jr. with their first round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Thomas Jr. led the nation in receiving touchdowns (17) while catching passes from Jayden Daniels alongside from Malik Nabers. He profiles as one of the premiere deep receiving threats in this year's draft class and could be an instant fit with Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Thomas blazed a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, an elite time for a receiver with his 6'3" frame. The Jaguars' passing attack could be an explosive one in 2024 with Thomas, Davis, Christian Kirk and Evan Engram under contract.

What It Means

Bowers led the Georgia Bulldogs in receiving in all three of his seasons with the team despite playing alongside future NFL talent. He broke out as a true freshman -- a rare feat for a tight end -- with 56 catches for 882 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Bowers kept things rolling after that exciting season, ultimately finishing his collegiate career with 175 catches, 2,538 yards, and 26 receiving scores. He even flashed his ridiculous athleticism as a rusher, compiling 193 yards and 5 touchdowns on just 19 carries (10.2 yards per carry).

Now, Bowers has a chance to become the one of the top pass-catching options for the Raiders. He'll join an offense that was led by All-Pro receiver Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers a season ago. He and new teammate Michael Mayer could form the best tight end duo in the league.

What It Means

The Broncos moved on quickly from former starter Russell Wilson, trading him to the Pittsburgh Steelers after two disappointing seasons in Denver. Now, the team will try and develop its quarterback of the future: Oregon Ducks passer Bo Nix.

Nix began his collegiate career with three middling seasons at Auburn, but caught fire once he arrived in Oregon. Over the last two seasons he put up massive numbers in the Pac-12, finishing his Ducks era with 8,101 passing yards and 74 interceptions with just 10 interceptions.

Nix showed off some playmaking chops throughout his collegiate career, but looked like an NFL-ready prospect in his final two seasons. He'll now get a chance to grow and learn under Sean Payton's offensive mind. Expect him to compete with Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham for the starting job in training camp this summer.