Luke

Farrell

The deal is worth “up to” $20.3 million and reportedly includes $11 million guaranteed. That’s a nice haul for a pure blocker. The 49ers obviously felt compelled to pony up at a position where they had frighteningly little depth behind an aging George Kittle. With 36 catches in four years, Farrell isn’t going to slide into fantasy relevance if/when Kittle goes down in 2025, but he could see heavy snaps in a 49ers offense that greatly values plus-blocking “skill players.”

The team also activated Josh Allen, Myles Jack, Luke Farrell, Jordan Smith, and Damien Wilson from the COVID-19 list following an outbreak early this week. With at least seven targets in three of his past four games, Shenault offers something of a fantasy floor in Week 17 against the Patriots. He would only be viable as a flex in 14-team leagues though.

Jacksonville is the league’s most tight end-needy team after losing James O’Shaughnessy to a long-term ankle injury in Week 2. Burton, 29, after a career season in Chicago in 2018, was hardly used at all while struggling through injuries in two years with the Colts. He would be the Jags’ test pass catching tight end if he were to sign with the team. For now, Luke Farrell and possibly Jacob Hollister will take on pass-catching duties while O’Shaughnessy recovers.

It was Farrell -- a rookie out of Ohio State -- who replaced James O’Shaughnessy (ankle) as Jacksonville’s primary pass-catching tight end against the Broncos. Farrell ran 20 pass routes while fellow TE Chris Manhertz ran 11. At Ohio State, Farrell was used as a blocking tight end, managing just 12 receptions in his final 22 collegiate games. He could find himself on the field, running a bunch of routes in a Jags offense that will continually be forced into pass-heavy game scripts.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said the lack of guaranteed money is “another sign that he’ll have to fight to make the team.” Tebow, 33, is expected to take on a position besides a traditional tight end if he cracks the Jags’ Week 1 roster. That could turn the fan favorite into a touchdown vulture near the goal line, affecting the fantasy prospects of Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, and James Robinson. Tebow’s chances to making the team are probably higher than most believe; Jacksonville has one of the NFL’s worst tight end groups, led by James O’Shaughnessy and blocking specialist Luke Farrell, a rookie out of Ohio State. Tebow could be drafted absurdly early in August if signs point to him making Jacksonville’s roster. All of the top-selling items in the NFL.com store are related to Tebow, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

After flaming out of the NFL in 2012, Tebow continues to get comeback chances. To be signed as a backup tight end in the NFL’s worst tight end group is, well, something. King said Jacksonville “will wait till after this weekend’s rookie mini-camp to assess their roster and maybe see how much they think they can get in the overall blocking/receiving from fifth-round tight end Luke Farrell of Ohio State.” Farrell was a blocking tight end at OSU, where he caught 12 passes in his final 22 collegiate games. Tebow’s name recognition and college-era fame in central and northern Florida will draw some fantasy managers’ attention this summer. The 33-year-old converted tight end is a long way from fantasy relevance though.

Farrell, a four-start recruit, was the No. 7 tight end in the 2016 recruiting class. He was primarily used as a blocking tight end at Ohio State, recording a meager 12 receptions in his final 22 collegiate games. Farrell has 28th percentile speed among tight end. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler described Farrell as a “gritty, assignment-sound blocker, but his acceleration and playmaking skills are non-threatening.” Jacksonville has not addressed their gaping hole at tight end this offseason. Farrell joins fellow blocking tight end Chris Manhertz on the Jags’ depth chart, along with James O’Shaughnessy, who -- incredibly -- profiles as the team’s primary pass-catching tight end.

Farrell (6'6/250) caught 20 passes last year as a sophomore while battling an ankle injury, so there’s a chance he adds a few more grabs in 2019. Regardless, Farrell has a chance in the NFL Draft based on his size, athleticism, and recruiting profile. The former four-star will be battling with other very promising tight ends this season.

Farrell caught two passes for 19 yards as a redshirt freshman but was expected to see more targets with the departure of 2017 starter Marcus Baugh. But Farrell hasn’t recorded any stats outside of the 2-19-1 he had in the Week 2 blowout of Rutgers. Perhaps he can work into the passing plans more once he kicks the injury.

Farrell is currently listed at 6-foot-6, 250 pounds on the OSU team page, though that page does not carry a timestamp. Call it somewhere in that vicinity. The big redshirt freshman specifically pointed to new OC Kevin Wilson as a major helping hand on the weight and strength front, saying, “He really pinpointed the issues I had been having, and we’ve been working on them every day. When I came in here, I wasn’t as strong as you’d expect a tight end to be. He has helped me a lot with that.” Farrell will be trying to carve out a role behind expected starter Marcus Baugh in August camp.