Free Agency Preview 2026: Tight Ends

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January 21, 2026

by Steve Thomas

This is the start of our annual free agency preview series.  We traditionally do this by position group and line up the schedule so we finish before the start of the NFL’s free agency period.  That means that the series starts this week.  We always do both a written column and a segment on The Hog Sty Podcast for that week, so keep an eye out for that as well.  We’re going to start with tight ends this week.

Washington’s starting tight end in both 2024 and 2025, Zach Ertz, is (a) recovering from a torn ACL, and (b) now a free agent, so Washington will need to replace him.  The candidates currently on the roster are John Bates, Lawrence Cager, Ben Sinnott, and Colson Yankoff.  None of these players have thusfar demonstrated an ability to play a significant, plus-level role in the passing game, so my guess is that Washington will make an effort to sign a starter who is able to be a contributor in the team’s passing game.

Rather than writing a biography on a bunch of random tight ends, what I’m going to do here is go through the list of possibilities and slowly filter out some based on various factors, to arrive at list of realistic possibilities.  Of that group, I’ll then talk contract for the select few remaining candidates.

One initial criteria in this exercise is that we’re looking for a proven commodity.  I get that there are any number of young players who have potential, but given that I think Washington wants a starter, I’m going to run with the idea that they will look to players who have already put demonstrated production on the books.

To begin, this is a list of the top players on the market in terms of average annual value from their current contracts, along with their respective 2026 stats:

  • Travis Kelce, Chiefs (6’5”/250, age 36): 17 gms, 17 starts, 76 rec, 851 yds, 5 TDs
  • David Njoku, Browns (6’4”/246, age 29): 12 gms, 11 starts, 33 rec, 293 yds, 4 TDs
  • Dallas Goedert, Eagles (6’5”/256, age 31): 15 gms, 15 starts, 60 rec, 591 yds, 11 TDs
  • Taysom Hill, Saints (6’2”/221, age 28): 13 gms, 5 starts, 11 rec, 91 yds, 0 TDs
  • Tyler Higbee, Rams (6’6”/253, age 31): 10 gms, 8 starts, 25 rec, 281 yds, 3 TDs
  • Kyle Pitts, Falcons (6’6”/250, age 28): 17 gms, 17 starts, 88 rec, 928 yds, 5 TDs
  • Zach Ertz, Washington (6’5”/250, age 35): 13 gms, 13 starts, 50 rec, 504 yds, 4 TDs
  • Austin Hooper, Patriots (6’4”/254, age 31): 15 gms, 6 starts, 21 rec, 263 yds, 2 TDs
  • Foster Moreau, Saints (6’4”/250, age 28): 11 gms, 9 starts, 7 rec, 59 yds, 0 TDs
  • Adam Trautman, Broncos (6’5”/253, age 28): 17 gms, 12 starts, 20 rec, 195 yds, 1 TD
  • Tyler Conklin, Chargers (6’3”/248, age 30): 13 gms, 5 starts, 7 rec, 101 yds, 0 TDs
  • Noah Fant, Bengals (6’4”/249, age 28): 15 gms, 7 starts, 34 rec, 288 yds, 3 TDs
  • Durham Smythe, Bears (6’5”248, age 30): 17 gms, 2 starts, 4 rec, 25 yds, 0 TDs
  • Mo Alie-Cox, Colts (6’5”/267, age 32): 17 gms, 6 starts, 13 rec, 117 yds, 1 TD
  • Darren Waller, Dolphins (6’6”/238, age 33): 12 gms, 11 starts, 24 rec, 283 yds, 6 TDs

To filter this list a bit, I’m going to eliminate Travis Kelce as a possibility.  He’s either going to return to the Chiefs or retire; plus, I want no part of Taylor Swift mania in Washington.  So he’s out.  I’m also going to eliminate Zach Ertz, because despite the fact that he’s been very good in DC, counting on a 35 year old with a torn ACL to come back as good as new for week 1 isn’t realistic.

I’m also going to eliminate anyone who is currently 31 years old or more, because . . . hasn’t Washington’s front office learned their lesson about signing too many old guys?  They need to get younger, alot younger, fast, not sign even more older players.  That eliminates Dallas Goedert, Tyler Higbee, Austin Hooper, Mo Alie-Cox, and Darren Waller.

I’m also going to eliminate Taysom Hill, because although he’s listed as a tight end in various places, he’s not really a full timer at the position.  He’s out too.

Therefore, the following players remain possibilities in my hypothetical search for a new starting tight end for Washington:

  • David Njoku, Browns (6’4”/246, age 29): 12 gms, 11 starts, 33 rec, 293 yds, 4 TDs
  • Kyle Pitts, Falcons (6’6”/250, age 28): 17 gms, 17 starts, 88 rec, 928 yds, 5 TDs
  • Foster Moreau, Saints (6’4”/250, age 28): 11 gms, 9 starts, 7 rec, 59 yds, 0 TDs
  • Adam Trautman, Broncos (6’5”/253, age 28): 17 gms, 12 starts, 20 rec, 195 yds, 1 TD
  • Tyler Conklin, Chargers (6’3”/248, age 30): 13 gms, 5 starts, 7 rec, 101 yds, 0 TDs
  • Noah Fant, Bengals (6’4”/249, age 28): 15 gms, 7 starts, 34 rec, 288 yds, 3 TDs
  • Durham Smythe, Bears (6’5”248, age 30): 17 gms, 2 starts, 4 rec, 25 yds, 0 TDs

Of the players remaining, neither Trautman nor Smythe have a career history of solid receiving production.  I’m therefore going to eliminate them as well.  That leaves the following:

  • David Njoku, Browns (6’4”/246, age 29): 12 gms, 11 starts, 33 rec, 293 yds, 4 TDs
  • Kyle Pitts, Falcons (6’6”/250, age 28): 17 gms, 17 starts, 88 rec, 928 yds, 5 TDs
  • Foster Moreau, Saints (6’4”/250, age 28): 11 gms, 9 starts, 7 rec, 59 yds, 0 TDs
  • Tyler Conklin, Chargers (6’3”/248, age 30): 13 gms, 5 starts, 7 rec, 101 yds, 0 TDs
  • Noah Fant, Bengals (6’4”/249, age 28): 15 gms, 7 starts, 34 rec, 288 yds, 3 TDs

Of the five remaining players, Pitts has the most consistent record of production.  Pitts has averaged 62 receptions, 780 yards, and 3 touchdowns in his 5 year career.  His best season thusfar was 2025, in which (as shown above) he had 88 receptions for 928 yards. He’s therefore my #1 candidate.

Fant has the next-most consistent record of production over his 7 year career, with an annual average of 52 receptions, 555 yards, and 3 touchdowns.  His most productive years of his career were with Denver in 2020 and 2021, with 62 receptions for 673 yards and 68 receptions for 670 yards, respectively.   He’ll be my #2.

David Njoku is next in terms of career production.  He’s averaged 55 receptions, 585 yards, and 5 touchdowns in his 9 year career with the Cleveland Browns.  His best season was 2023, in which he had 81 receptions for 882 yards, and 6 touchdowns.  He’s 29, which is a bit older than ideal, but he’s at least not 30 yet.  However, critically, Njoku is recovering from a knee injury, and without having a clearer picture of his status, it’s hard for me to recommend Washington giving him a big contract.

Tyler Conklin and Fabian Moreau have been much less productive than the others.  Conklin has averaged 36 receptions, 354 yards, and 1 touchdown each year during his 8 year career.  His best season was 2023 with the Jets, in which he had 61 receptions for 621 yards, with no touchdowns.  Moreau has averaged 25 receptions, 290 yards, and 3 touchdowns in his 7 year career.  His high-water mark was 2022, in which he had 33 receptions for 420 yards, and 2 touchdowns.  In my view, neither one is worthy of big starter money from Washington.

Therefore, the end result of this exercise is that Washington needs to target, first Kyle Pitts, and second Noah Fant.  Pitts has probably been the most consistent of the two, so he should be first priority.  According to Spotrac, Pitts’ market value is $14.6M in average annual value.  Fant has a significantly lower value, with Spotrac placing him at $3.2M in average annual value.   Pitts has been better, but either player would be a good signing and would stabilize the tight end position group.

Tight end is going to be important to Washington next season, so this is a position group in which they’d be justified in spending significant money.  Welcome to Washington, Kyle.