Who Should I Start? Giovanni Ricci or Travis Vokolek

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 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.