Who Should I Start? Giovanni Ricci or Luke Farrell

Monday, February 3, 7:02 PM

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.

Monday, March 10, 4:19 PM

Former Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Luke Farrell agreed to a three-year contract worth up to $20.25 million on Monday with $11 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It's an addition for the 49ers in free agency that will bolster their tight end depth behind All-Pro George Kittle, who is no stranger to injuries. The 27-year-old Farrell was a former fifth-round selection (145th overall) by the Jaguars in 2021 out of Ohio State. He had 36 receptions on only 47 targets for 318 yards and no touchdowns in 66 games (20 starts) in his four seasons with Jacksonville. Farrell's best season came in 2023, when he caught 13 of his 15 targets for 155 yards. If Eric Saubert leaves as an unrestricted free agent this year, Farrell will have a better shot at being the primary backup to Kittle when games kick off in Week 1 this fall.