Who Should I Start? James Mitchell or Trey McBride

Tuesday, January 21, 10:17 PM

The Carolina Panthers announced on Tuesday that they signed free-agent tight end James Mitchell and outside linebacker Boogie Basham to Reserve/Futures deals. Mitchell was a former fifth-round selection by the Detroit Lions in 2022 out of Virginia Tech. He was with the Lions on their practice squad in 2024 and will now try to make Carolina's active 53-man roster for the 2025 season. In 30 games over three seasons in the NFL, he has only recorded 13 catches for 141 yards and one touchdown in Detroit. Basham, meanwhile, was a second-round selection by the Buffalo Bills in 2021 out of Wake Forest. He'll reunite with general manager Dan Morgan, who was in Buffalo's front office when he was drafted. In 40 games over his four years in the NFL, Basham has 4.5 sacks. He was traded to the New York Giants in 2023.

Thursday, April 3, 4:43 PM

The Arizona Cardinals are making Pro Bowl tight end Trey McBride the highest-paid tight end in NFL history with a four-year, $76 million contract extension on Thursday, according to his agents. The deal includes $43 million guaranteed and a $19 million average per year, which is the highest ever for any NFL tight end. The 25-year-old former second-rounder (55th overall) in 2022 out of Colorado State was a first-time Pro Bowler in 2024 while setting career-highs in receptions (111), targets (147), receiving yards (1,146) in 16 games. Despite only finding the end zone two times, McBride still finished as the TE2 in standard scoring in his third year in the league, with his 111 catches falling just one short of Brock Bowers' 112 for the league lead. He should score more in 2025 in his fourth year in the NFL, making him an elite TE1 target for fantasy managers.