Who Should I Start? Giovanni Ricci or Nikola Kalinic

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.

Wednesday, January 29, 10:19 PM

The Atlanta Falcons announced on Tuesday that they signed free-agent tight end Nikola Kalinic to a Reserve/Future contract. The 28-year-old appeared in two games with the Los Angeles Rams in 2024 and previously played in the Canadian Football League from 2019-22 before joining the Indianapolis Colts. Since the end of the season in addition to Kalinic, Atlanta has signed quarterback Emory Jones, wide receivers Phillips Dorsett, Jesse Matthews, Dylan Drummond, Makai Polk and David Sills, running back Elijah Dotson, offensive linemen Joey Fisher, Jovaughn Gwyn, Tyron Wheatley Jr. and Matthew Cindric, defensive linemen Junior Aho, Khalid Kareem and LaCale London, and defensive backs Lamar Jackson and Benny Sapp III to Reserve/Futures deals.