Who Should I Start? Pharaoh Brown or Eric Saubert

Wednesday, March 13, 12:24 AM

Free-agent tight end Pharaoh Brown is signing a one-year, $3.2 million base-value deal with the Seattle Seahawks this week, according to a source. Brown can make a maximum of $3.9 million on incentives. He will give quarterback Geno Smith another veteran option in the passing game in 2024 after catching 15 passes for a career-high 208 yards and one touchdown in 17 games (11 starts) with the New England Patriots last season. The 29-year-old has just 64 receptions (88 targets) for 686 yards and three touchdowns in his six years in the NFL, so nobody is expecting Brown to become a very big part of Seattle's passing attack in 2024, especially while he plays second fiddle to primary pass-catching tight end Noah Fant. Brown had a career-high 23 receptions in 2021 with the Houston Texans.

Monday, April 8, 6:15 PM

The San Francisco 49ers signed free-agent tight end Eric Saubert to an undisclosed one-year deal on Monday. Saubert was initially drafted in the fifth round (174th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons in 2017 out of Drake. The 29-year-old spent the first two years of his NFL career in Atlanta before stops with the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans. He was with the Cowboys and Texans in 2023 and caught all three of his targets for 12 yards in 10 games (one start). Saubert has 36 career receptions on 55 targets for 292 yards and two touchdowns in 84 games (16 starts) in his seven NFL seasons. In San Francisco this year, Saubert will operate as tight end depth behind starter George Kittle alongside Brayden Willis, Cameron Latu and Jake Tonges.