The New England Patriots signed free-agent tight end Giovanni Ricci (knee) to a Reserve/Futures deal on Monday. Ricci was on the Cleveland Browns' practice squad in 2024 but never was active for a regular-season game and was cut in August due to a knee injury. The 28-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan made his NFL debut in 2021 with the Carolina Panthers, with all 36 of his career games coming with Carolina. In three NFL seasons, Ricci has caught only nine of 12 targets for 102 yards and no touchdowns with the Panthers. Ricci is more of a blocker than a pass-catcher and will now represent tight end depth for the Patriots throughout the offseason and into training camp this summer. The most likely scenario is that he'll effective serve as a fullback for new Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp wrote on his X account on Monday that he was "informed that the team will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championships." The 31-year-old wideout said after the Rams were eliminated in the postseason that he planned on continuing his playing career into 2025, but it looks like that won't be back in L.A. Kupp is under contract with the Rams through the 2026 season. If the Rams cannot find a trade partner, they could save $15 million in cash by releasing him. Another injury early in the 2024 season caused Kupp to miss some time, and he finished his eighth year in L.A. with a 67-710-6 line in 12 regular-season contests. Kupp has not played a full season since leading the league in catches, yards and touchdowns in 2021, making him a big injury risk, regardless of where he winds up in 2025.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that team personnel that he spoke with think Cincinnati Bengals impending free-agent wide receiver Tee Higgins' market is $30 million per year, with most of them thinking he'll hit or clear the over on that mark. The lowest estimate is somewhere slightly above DeVonta Smith's three-year, $75 million deal. Higgins should do very well for himself in free agency because of his status as a No.1-caliber wideout and the fact that plenty of NFL teams are desperate for pass-catching help this offseason. If the Bengals wanted to, they could put the franchise tag on Higgins for less than $30 million in 2025, but the expectation is that they'll either sign him to an extension or let him walk. The 26-year-old has played in only 12 regular-season games in each of the last two years due to injuries, but when healthy, he's been productive. Higgins had a career-high 10 TDs and 911 receiving yards in 2024.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that the Minnesota Vikings haven't made a firm determination on impending free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold's future with the organization. Darnold exceeded all expectations in 2024, and bringing him back is a stronger possibility that it was five or six months ago. However, the Vikings have a cap on what they'll spend on the QB position, especially after he struggled to close out the year. Some agents think Darnold shouldn't take a penny less than Daniel Jones' four-year, $160 million deal with the New York Giants two years ago. He could get something similar to Baker Mayfield's three-year, $100 million deal, or the Vikes could slap the $35.3 million transition tag on him. Darnold threw for 4,319 yards, 35 TDs and 12 interceptions in 17 games, but his struggles in the final two games will ultimately cost him a lot of money on the open market. Whether the Vikings keep him will depend on how confident they are in J.J. McCarthy and Jones.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that some in the Pittsburgh Steelers organization are comfortable with Justin Fields as the starting quarterback in 2025. Fields has upside and more mobility than impending free-agent QB Russell Wilson. However, an NFC executive said that Fields didn't have much chemistry with wide receiver George Pickens, so that could play a part in who the Steelers choose to move forward with in 2025. Both Fields and Wilson will be free agents in March, and the Steelers are only expected to keep one of them moving forward. The 25-year-old Fields may be a better rushing asset than Wilson, but what he gains in mobility, he lacks in downfield passing and accuracy. The former first-rounder of the Chicago Bears in 2021 went 4-2 as a starter for Pittsburgh in 2024, throwing for 1,106 yards, five TDs and one pick while also rushing for 289 yards and five more scores.