Who Should I Start? Cameron Latu or Zach Heins

Tuesday, January 21, 10:13 PM

The Philadelphia Eagles signed free-agent tight end Cameron Latu to a Reserve/Futures deal on Tuesday and released wide receiver Elijah Cooks from their practice squad in a corresponding move. Latu was with the San Francisco 49ers during training camp but was cut before the start of the regular season. The 24-year-old then latched on with the Cleveland Browns and spent time on their practice squad in 2024, although he did not play in any games. He has never appeared in an NFL game and will merely be looking to stick around on Philly's active 53-man roster after training camp this summer. Latu was originally taken by the 49ers in the third round (101st overall) of the 2023 NFL draft out of Alabama.

Thursday, July 11, 4:37 PM

Former South Dakota State University tight end Zach Heins signed with the Los Angeles Chargers after being unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft. After a slow start to his collegiate career, Heins caught 56 passes for 757 yards and 11 touchdowns over the last two seasons. With the Chargers, he's in one of the weaker tight end rooms in the NFL, and Daniel Popper of the Athletic believes he has a shot to make the 53-man roster following training camp. "Heins, out of South Dakota State, is over 6-foot-6 and 259 pounds. He projects as a capable inline blocker. The Chargers have been very clear about wanting to build a physical and imposing running game," Popper wrote. "To do that consistently, they need run blockers at tight end. They signed an elite run blocker in free agency in Will Dissly. But I think they need more run-blocking behind Dissly." It sounds like Heins won't be much of a pass-catcher if he makes the roster, but he should still be on the fantasy radar in ultra-deep leagues if he's active in Week 1. The Chargers could opt to carry four tight ends on game day, so he'll need to beat out one of Dissly, Hayden Hurst, Donald Parham Jr., or Stone Smartt.