As the offseason
begins to take shape, the discussion on roster improvement and player movement
is front and center. Teams will be looking to shed salary on top of the players
already listed as free agents. As of today these are the top listed FA’s looking
for new contracts. The Fantasy Football impact is definitely real as players
entertain staying with their clubs or moving on to a new system. Exciting times
are upon us, as teams begin to re-tool and build for next season. It’s time to
speculate!
Top Free Agent Tight Ends:
Jared
Cook (OAK)
Age: 32 | 2018 Salary: $5,300,000 | FA Rank #1
Jared Cook has seen an uneven career to date playing
for 4 teams in his 10 year career while most likely looking for a new home in
2019.
Cook played 2 seasons in Oakland seeing some of his
best career production to date which should increase his overall market for
tight-end needy teams. Cook isn’t supremely talented but does employ a solid
skillset that makes him a giant mismatch verse most linebackers and safeties.
Jared was thrust into a more prevalent role this season when the Raiders
shipped Amari Cooper to the Cowboys, making Cook the only consistent viable
target for Derek Carr. With Cook long in the tooth entering age 32 this season,
he’ll surly look to cash in for what will be his last chance at a big payday.
If Cook can find a way to play on a team with a strong
quarterback, his prospects for the upcoming season could one again take shape.
2019
Potential Fantasy Impact: Moderate
Austin
Seferian-Jenkins (JAX)
Age: 26 | 2018 Salary: $3,051,250 | FA Rank #2
Recently released, Austin Seferian-Jenkins is no
longer a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars and will find himself back on the
open market for any team to kick tires on once again.
Seferian-Jenkins is one of those players that falls
into the potential category simply for his skillset and massive size. In our
minds the fit in Jacksonville was never right given the lack of reliable quarterback
play. Piggy backing on that fact, Austin hasn’t done himself any favors either,
not being able to play an entire season of football in his 6 year NFL career.
Austin has missed a whopping 53 contests in that time which in turn has limited
that overall production.
Looking ahead to the future, Seferian-Jenkins should
be able to convince another club to take a chance once again believing he could
turn into the player we all envisioned he could become. With the tight-end
market looking rather grim, Austin should sit in the second rank with
possibilities to produce given the right circumstances.
2019
Potential Fantasy Impact: Moderate/Low
Maxx
Williams (BAL)
Age: 25 | 2018 Salary: $1,013,185 | FA Rank #3
With the tight-end position taking a backseat these
days in the NFL, the free agent market doesn’t possess a plethora of big names
that will make any club scream for joy.
Perhaps the best player on the market at the tight-end
position, the Ravens often injured Maxx Williams could have teams reaching out
based on his skillset. With Baltimore having more than one capable tight-end on
the roster to date, Williams should get his walking papers finding his way to a
new team this spring. Statistically, Maxx has definitely underachieved in his
short career, but could become something of a player in a different city. With
teams like Detroit having no viable option at the position, Maxx could carve
out a starting role from day one.
If Williams can figure out a way to stay on the field
for an entire season, his value could increase on a weekly basis.
2019
Potential Fantasy Impact: Moderate/Low
Demetrius
Harris (KC)
Age: 28 | 2018 Salary: $2,100,000 | FA Rank #4
The Chiefs backup tight-end Demetrius Harris is
literally a freak of nature standing at 6-foot 7-inches tall while possessing a
decent level of skill.
With Kansas City rostering the best tight-end in the
business (Travis Kelce) his services should be found elsewhere next season.
Harris is an attractive player based on his mammoth size potentially making
teams believe they could employ him in a primary pass catching role. To date,
Harris has been used largely in special roles including short yardage and goal
line opportunity.
The former basketball player has shown good athletic
ability while running a stunning 4.56 second 40- time coming out of college,
leaving his potential virtually untapped. Based on the price point teams could
secure his services for this offseason, Harris is a potential sleeper for 2019.
2019
Potential Fantasy Impact: Unknown/Moderate
Jesse
James (PIT)
Age: 25 | 2018 Salary: $622,228 | FA Rank #5
The Steelers Jesse James has been the staple of
reliability in his time with Pittsburgh showing that even with a lower athletic
skillset, he could make things happen.
James is another tall human that stands 6-foot
7-inches tall, but isn’t a quick footed individual that can shake opposing
defenders out of their socks. Over the course of his 4 years in Pittsburgh,
James was known for his solid hands in securing first downs while being
targeted a handful of times in redzone placement. With the emergence of Vance
McDonald this past season, we would be shocked if Jesse was able to convince
the Steelers for another contract.
James is an interesting player that could have some
upside in 2019, but he won’t be utilized enough to contain standalone value.
2019
Potential Fantasy Impact: Low
Tyler
Kroft (CIN)
Age: 26 | 2018 Salary: $750,319 | FA Rank #6
The Bengals backup tight-end Tyler Kroft is a very
interesting player that has seen time as the starting tight-end with his
teammate Tyler Eifert losing time to the medical room.
Kroft isn’t the most nimble of characters on the
field, but has proven to be somewhat reliable when placed in important
situations. Tyler enjoyed his best season in relief of Efiert back in 2017
where he managed to secure a decent 42 receptions for 404 yards and a healthy 7
touchdowns. Giving that production, Kroft should be able to carve out a role
for himself on any NFL team.
While Kroft may never enjoy the fruits of being a true
starter in the league, there is the possibility that a club may afford him the
opportunity this season.
2019
Potential Fantasy Impact: Low
Tyler
Eifert (CIN)
Age: 28 | 2018 Salary: $5,500,000 | FA Rank #7
The Bengals Tyler Eifert was one of ADF’s favorites
coming out of college after witnessing a splendid career at Notre Dame. Now,
after seeing what he’s been able to accomplish in the NFL, we are terrified at
his future prospects.
It’s not the Tyler isn’t a strong player that has proven
to have a nose for the endzone; it’s his inability to remain healthy having
lost a whopping 53 games to injury over his 6 NFL seasons. The NFL is a
forgiving bunch that would provide another opportunity for players to resubmit
themselves, but Tyler is treading on thin ice with his history. It’s clear he’s
worn out his welcome in Cincinnati and shouldn’t be back with the team.
Some NFL clubs will more than likely bring Eifert on
with a league minimum contract in hopes he can prove to be the player we
believed he could be. With that said, his risk of injury is far too high to
trust at this point.
2019 Potential Fantasy Impact: Low/None
Potential Value Tight Ends:
Geoff Swaim
(DAL)
Levine
Toilolo (DET)
Luke Stocker
(TEN)
A.J Derby
(MIA)
Lance Kendricks
(GB)
Neal
Sterling (NYJ)
Logan Thomas
(BUF) (RFA*)
Xavier
Gamble (PIT) (RFA*)
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