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McCloud got first-team reps this spring and caught some passes from QB Kirk Cousins for big plays, ESPN.com's Marc Raimondi reports.

Advice: McCloud mostly served as a return specialist and fourth/fifth WR while playing for four different teams the past six seasons, but he got five starts and 66 targets with the Steelers back in 2021, catching 39 passes for 277 yards en route to a league-low 4.2 yards per target. He may now get another chance at significant snaps on offense, having signed in March with an Atlanta team that has Drake London, Darnell Mooney and Rondale Moore projected as the top three wide receivers. London and Mooney are locked in as starters, and tight end Kyle Pitts will get a significant target share, but Moore was a disappointment in Arizona and could now face competition from McCloud for a No. 3 role that would figure to entail a lot of screen passes, jet sweeps, etc. rather than downfield targets. The Falcons also have KhaDarel Hodge and Casey Washington as options if they want to go with a more traditional WR and not a vertically challenged YAC specialist like the 5-foot-7 Moore or 5-foot-9 McCloud. Rotowire.com Tuesday, 7:46 am

Giants TE Lawrence Cager impressed coaches during minicamp.

Advice: With Darren Waller’s recent retirement, the Giants are looking for a reliable pass-catching tight end. “It looked this spring like Cager and fourth-round pick Theo Johnson will be asked” to fill Waller’s role in the New York offense. Giants head coach Brian Daboll said Cager, a converted wideout who has 19 receptions over five NFL seasons, was “probably one of the most improved players throughout the offseason.” ESPN’s Jordan Raanan did not mention presumed starting TE Daniel Bellinger as a candidate to take on pass-catching duties in 2024. Rotoworld Tuesday, 5:51 am

ESPN’s David Newton said Ian Thomas has “stolen the spotlight” at tight end during Panthers’ OTAs and minicamp.

Advice: Rookie fourth-rounder Ja’Tavion Sanders was expected to be the Panthers tight end who would impress in the passing game. While that still may happen, Newton writes that in head coach Dave Canales’ “tight-end-friendly scheme [Thomas] has become a big target” at the position. The Panthers rank dead last in the league in tight end targets over the last four seasons, and Thomas hasn’t gone for more than 197 yards since posting a line of 36-333-2 as a rookie back in 2018. We’ll take this one with a grain of salt, but it’s possible the seven-year vet is the preferred tight end for the Panthers in 2024 if his strong offseason carries into training camp. Rotoworld Monday, 3:03 pm

Speaking on NFL Live, Ryan Clark reported that Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers were scheduled to meet with one another on Monday.

Advice: According to Clark, this is a meeting . He also added that Aiyuk has taken contract negotiations with the team as “personal” over the last several months. Aiyuk posted a video to his social media account last week of him telling Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels that the 49ers “said they don’t want me anymore.” The team when it was reported they still wanted Aiyuk, but not at the price he is asking for. At this time, Aiyuk is set to play out 2024 under the franchise tag, where he’ll earn roughly $14 million. The veteran receiver caught 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns last season and could likely get signed to his desired contract by another team if the 49ers were open to dealing him. Clark said Aiyuk would prefer to remain with the team but is open to playing elsewhere if the team opts to trade him. We expect to know more about this situation in the near future. Rotoworld Monday, 1:06 pm