Who Should I Start? Durham Smythe or Travis Vokolek

Thursday, March 6, 2:33 PM

The Chicago Bears signed former Miami Dolphins tight end Durham Smythe to a one-year deal on Thursday, according to NFL.com. The former fourth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame has played his entire seven-year career with Miami but was released this offseason. Overall, the 28-year-old has hauled in 132 receptions for 1,228 yards and three touchdowns in 112 career games. Smythe is best utilized as a blocker, and with Chicago trading for former Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Jonah Jackson and former Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Joe Thuney, it's evident they want to improve quickly in run and pass blocking. Smythe could help Chicago's offense in 2025 under new head coach Ben Johnson, but he's unlikely to be on the fantasy football radar.

Monday, March 24, 8:30 PM

Exclusive-rights free-agent tight end Travis Vokolek officially signed his one-year tender offer on Monday to return to the Arizona Cardinals. It was merely a formality, as his lone option was to sign and remain with Arizona after they extended him a tender earlier this month. The 26-year-old former undrafted free agent will now return in 2025 for his third season with the team. Vokolek has only appeared in three games with the Cardinals in his two seasons in the NFL and has yet to be targeted or catch a pass on offense. The Nebraska alumni will merely be competing for a roster spot in training camp this summer as a special-teamer and for tight end depth. The 6-foot-6, 260-pounder originally joined the Cardinals in 2023 after being signed off the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad that December. On offense, Vokolek is a blocking-first tight end.