The Chargers have agreed to terms with veteran tight end Tyler Conklin on a one-year deal, per his agent Mike McCartney.
Conklin visited the Chargers on Friday with the team needing to add depth at the position. The team is returning 2024 starter Will Dissly but had to replace the 488 snaps vacated by Stone Smartt, Hayden Hurst and Eric Tomlinson. Smartt signed with the Jets, and though Hurst and Tomlinson are still available, Conklin is a clear upgrade.
The seven-year veteran played 16 games for the Jets in 2024, logging 51 catches for 449 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. The Jets were reportedly interested in retaining Conklin, but he drew little interest in the first week of free agency. But after Evan Engram and Juwan Johnson signed new contracts, Conklin became the best available tight end on the market.
The Chargers, meanwhile, only had Dissly and Tucker Fisk under contract for 2025. Dissly appeared in 15 games with a 50.6% snap share, while Fisk played 19.3% of the team’s offensive snaps in a rotational role. Conklin will likely slot in as the TE2 in Los Angeles, though offensive coordinator Greg Roman frequently uses multiple tight end formations.
Conklin has put together a solid career for a former fifth-rounder, landing with his third NFL team after being drafted by the Vikings in 2018 and signing a three-year deal with the Jets. Conklin was unable to land another multi-year deal as a 29-year-old, indicating that he will likely play on a year-to-year basis for the remainder of his career.
While Conklin fills the Chargers’ short-term need, they may still target a strong draft class at the position in April to find a long-term tight end for Justin Herbert.
