Who Should I Start? Giovanni Ricci or Zach Davidson

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, 10:24 PM

The Buffalo Bills announced on Wednesday that they re-signed tight end Zach Davidson to a Reserve/Futures deal. Davidson spent most of the 2024 season on the team's practice squad but was elevated to the active 53-man roster for three games. The 26-year-old only caught one of two targets for five yards on offense, though, while also seeing work on special teams. That is the only action he's seen in the NFL since the Minnesota Vikings made him a fifth-round selection in 2021 out of Central Missouri State. Davidson will continue his development with the Bills this offseason through organized team activities and training camp as he looks to win a spot on the 53-man active roster for Week 1 of the 2025 regular season.