Seahawks Sign Four Draft Picks, 13 UDFAs
The Seahawks are the latest NFL team to announce a series of draft pick signings and undrafted free agent additions, indicating in a press release that nine of their 10 draftees have been locked up, and 13 rookie free agents have joined the roster.
We heard earlier today that first-round offensive lineman Germain Ifedi had agreed to terms with his new club, and the Seahawks had also secured second-round defensive tackle Jarran Reed, third-round tight end Nick Vannett, third-round offensive lineman Rees Odhiambo, and fifth-round running back Alex Collins at that point. Seattle has since signed the following four draft picks as well, leaving only seventh-round running back Zac Brooks unsigned:
- 3-90: C.J. Prosise, RB (Notre Dame)
- 5-147: Quinton Jefferson, DT (Maryland)
- 6-215: Joey Hunt, C (TCU)
- 7-243: Kenny Lawler, WR (California)
To supplement their draft class, the Seahawks have signed the following 13 UDFAs:
- QB Trevone Boykin (TCU) ($15K signing bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
- FB/DT Brandin Bryant (Florida Atlantic)
- CB DeAndre Elliott (Colorado State)
- T George Fant (Western Kentucky)
- DE Christian French (Oregon)
- DT Lars Koht (Florida International) ($2K bonus, per Wilson)
- LB Steve Longa (Rutgers)
- RB Tre Madden (USC)
- T Lene Maiava (Arizona)
- WR Tanner McEvoy (Wisconsin)
- DE Montese Overton (East Carolina)
- DE David Perkins (Illinois State)
- SS Tyvis Powell (Ohio State)
Ravens Sign Seven Draftees, 11 UDFAs
Like a number of other teams around the league, the Ravens made an effort to get plenty of contracts done before their rookie minicamp got underway, securing seven of their 11 draftees, and adding another 11 undrafted free agents to their roster.
The Ravens confirmed today that they’ve signed fifth-round defensive end Matt Judon, whose agreement was reported earlier this week, and announced that they’ve locked up six other draft picks, writes Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com. Sixth overall pick Ronnie Stanley remains unsigned, as do Bronson Kaufusi, Tavon Young, and Keenan Reynolds. However, the following Baltimore draftees are now under contract, having signed their four-year rookie deals:
- 2-42: Kamalei Correa, DE/OLB (Boise State)
- 4-107: Chris Moore, WR (Cincinnati)
- 4-130: Alex Lewis, T (Nebraska)
- 4-132: Willie Henry, DT (Michigan)
- 4-134: Kenneth Dixon, RB (Louisiana Tech)
- 5-146: Matt Judon, DE (Grand Valley State) (previously reported)
- 6-209: Maurice Canady, CB (Virginia)
In a separate press release on their website, the Ravens also listed their 11-man UDFA class, complete with a scouting report for each player. Here are Baltimore’s UDFA additions:
- G Jarell Broxton (Baylor) ($10K signing bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
- DT Trevon Coley (Florida Atlantic)
- OL Anthony Fabiano (Harvard) ($10K bonus, per Wilson)
- LB Cavellis Luckett (Middle Tennessee State) ($2.5K bonus, per Wilson)
- K Wil Lutz (Georgia State)
- T Stephane Nembot (Colorado)
- LB Victor Ochi (Stony Brook)
- LB Mario Ojemudia (Michigan)
- LB Patrick Onwuasor (Portland State)
- DT Michael Pierce (Samford)
- C Matt Skura (Duke) ($7.5K bonus, per Wilson)
Texans Sign 15 Undrafted Free Agents
The Texans issued a press release this afternoon, confirming three draft pick signings that had been previously reported. The team has yet to lock up its top three picks, but has secured fourth-round running back Tyler Ervin, fifth-round safety K.J. Dillon, and fifth-round defensive lineman D.J. Reader.
In addition to signing those draftees, the Texans also announced that they’ve added 15 undrafted free agents to their 90-man roster, supplementing their modest six-man draft class. Here are the 15 UDFAs currently on Houston’s roster:
- TE Stephen Anderson (California)
- K Ka’imi Fairbairn (UCLA)
- DE Joel Heath (Michigan State)
- WR Tevin Jones (Memphis) ($1K signing bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
- DE Ufomba Kamalu (Miami) ($5K bonus, per Wilson)
- OLB Eric Lee (South Florida)
- CB Richard Leonard (Florida International)
- WR Richard Mullaney (Alabama)
- ILB Shakeel Rashad (North Carolina)
- OLB Brennan Scarlett (Stanford)
- CB Duke Thomas (Texas) ($4.5K bonus, per Wilson)
- T Arturo Uzdavinis (Tulane)
- FB Soma Vainuku (USC)
- CB Cleveland Wallace III (San Jose State)
- WR Wendall Williams (Cumberlands) ($5K bonus, per Wilson)
NFC Notes: Ansah, Stafford, Bradford, Giants
Defensive end Ziggy Ansah, who is now under contract through 2017 after the Lions picked up his fifth-year option for 2017, won’t say whether he’s interested in signing a multiyear extension to remain in Detroit long term.
“As of right now, I think you’ve got to take it step by step,” said the standout Lions defender, according to Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press. “You’ve got to see how this season goes, and I’m just looking forward as far as having a great season for the team.”
In 2016, Ansah will earn a modest $2.94MM salary, but that 2017 option will pay him $12.734MM, so he’s in line for a nice raise eventually, whether or not he inks a long-term deal with the Lions. The former first-round pick, who recorded 14.5 sacks in 2015 on his way to his first Pro Bowl nod, was the league’s 27th-best edge defender out of 110 qualified players, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required).
Here’s more from out of the NFC:
- Without Calvin Johnson to lean on, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford must earn his next deal, Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press writes. Stafford, entering his eighth year in the NFL, is scheduled to carry a $22.5MM cap number in 2016 and a $22MM cap charge in 2017 before hitting the open market.
- While Tom Condon, the agent for Sam Bradford, has said his client won’t be participating in offseason activities, Bradford’s Eagles teammate Connor Barwin expects the quarterback to be back in a week or two, as he said today on SportsRadio 94 WIP (Twitter link via John Clark of CSN Philly).
- Mike Triplett of ESPN.com and Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post break down the specific details on Terron Armstead‘s new five-year extension with the Saints, which is worth $65MM with $20.88MM fully guaranteed at signing.
- While this weekend’s minicamps are mostly about rookies, the Giants have a few veterans in attendance to try out for a spot on their roster. Per Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (Twitter link), defensive end Lawrence Sidbury, quarterback B.J. Daniels, and running back Lache Seastrunk are among the free agents in attendance. Linebacker Xzavier Dickson is auditioning for Big Blue too, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
49ers Sign DeForest Buckner, Draftees, UDFAs
The 49ers have confirmed the previously-reported signings of sixth-round draft picks Kelvin Taylor and Jeff Driskel, and announced nearly two dozen more roster moves to go along with those signings. In a press release, the Niners said they have waived four players from their 90-man roster, signed nine draft picks (including Taylor and Driskel), and added 12 undrafted free agents to the mix.
San Francisco’s most notable transaction is the signing of defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, who becomes the highest-drafted player to ink his rookie contract so far. Buckner, a standout at Oregon, was snagged by the 49ers with the seventh overall pick in last week’s draft, and is in line for a four-year contract worth more than $18.19MM, including a signing bonus of approximately $11.43MM. His deal also features a fifth-year option for 2020.
Listed below are the other draftees signed today by the 49ers, in addition to Buckner, Taylor, and Driskel. Only first-round guard Joshua Garnett and third-round defensive back Will Redmond are still unsigned:
- 4-133: Rashard Robinson, CB (LSU)
- 5-142: Ronald Blair, DE (Appalachian State)
- 5-145: John Theus, T (Georgia)
- 5-174: Fahn Cooper, OL (Ole Miss)
- 6-213: Aaron Burbridge, WR (Michigan State)
- 7-249: Prince Charles Iworah, DB (Western Kentucky)
While the 49ers had plenty of space on their roster for their draft picks, the team didn’t have much extra flexibility to add more than a handful of undrafted free agents. As such, San Francisco has cut four veterans: offensive lineman Jordan Devey, kicker Corey Acosta, running back Kendall Gaskins, and quarterback Dylan Thompson.
Devey is perhaps the most notable name in this group — the 49ers didn’t make many headlines when they acquired him from the Patriots in a trade for tight end Asante Cleveland last August, but Devey unexpectedly made his way into the club’s starting lineup to open the season. Although he was replaced down the stretch, the 28-year-old made nine starts and played nearly 400 offensive snaps for San Francisco in 2015.
With a few spots cleared on their 90-man roster, the Niners officially added 12 undrafted free agents. Here’s the full list of those UDFAs:
- LB Kevin Anderson (Stanford)
- OL Alex Balducci (Oregon)
- S Jered Bell (Colorado) ($2.5K bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
- WR Devon Cajuste (Stanford)
- DL Demetrius Cherry (Arizona State)
- LB Jason Fanaika (Utah)
- LB Lenny Jones (Nevada)
- DL Darren Lake (Alabama) ($7K guarantee, per Wilson)
- K John Lunsford (Liberty)
- OL Blake Muir (Baylor)
- OL Norman Price (Southern Mississippi)
- WR Bryce Treggs (California)
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Seahawks, Germain Ifedi Agree To Terms
The Seahawks have reached agreements with two more draft picks, most notably striking a deal with first-round offensive lineman Germain Ifedi, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Caplan also reports that the team has agreed to terms with third-round tight end Nick Vannett.
Seattle locked up a pair of Day 2 picks earlier this week, agreeing to deals with second-round defensive tackle Jarran Reed and third-round offensive lineman Rees Odhiambo. After securing those four players, the Seahawks still have to sign six more players from this year’s 10-man draft class, but none of those contracts should be particularly difficult to negotiate.
Ifedi, who was selected with the 31st overall pick after the Seahawks traded down from No. 26, figures to compete for a spot on Seattle’s offensive line immediately, either at guard or right tackle. Because the Patriots didn’t have a first-round pick this year, the former Texas A&M tackle represented the final pick of the 31-player first round, and will therefore be the last 2016 draftee eligible for a fifth-year option on his rookie contract.
According to Over the Cap’s data, Ifedi’s four-year rookie deal should be worth about $8.265MM, with a $4.211MM signing bonus. The value of his fifth-year option for 2020 won’t be determined until 2019, when the Seahawks will have to make a decision on whether to exercise or decline it.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Lions Sign Taylor Decker, Eight Draftees, 12 UDFAs
The Lions have officially locked up nearly all of their draft class, along with a dozen undrafted free agents, the team announced today in a pair of press releases. The most notable name in the group is Ohio State offensive tackle Taylor Decker, who was Detroit’s first-round pick, but the team has also signed eight other draftees to go along with its 12 new UDFAs.
Of Detroit’s 10 draft picks, only second-round defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson remains unsigned for now. Here’s the complete list of draft picks secured by the Lions:
- 1-16: Taylor Decker, T (Ohio State)
- 3-95: Graham Glasgow, C (Michigan)
- 4-111: Miles Killebrew, S (Southern Utah)
- 5-151: Joe Dahl, T (Washington State): (previously reported)
- 5-169: Antwione Williams, LB (Georgia Southern)
- 6-191: Jake Rudock, QB (Michigan)
- 6-202: Anthony Zettel, DT (Penn State): (previously reported)
- 6-210: Jimmy Landes, LS (Baylor): (previously reported)
- 7-236: Dwayne Washington, RB (Washington)
And here are the 12 undrafted free agents who signed contracts with the Lions:
- CB Adairius Barnes (Louisiana Tech)
- WR Jace Billingsley (Eastern Oregon)
- WR Quinshad Davis (North Carolina)
- DE James DeLoach (Georgia)
- G Chase Farris (Ohio State) ($20K guarantee, per Aaron Wilson)
- TE Adam Fuehne (Southern Illinois)
- DE Deonte Gibson (Northwestern)
- WR Jay Lee (Baylor)
- DB Charles Washington (Fresno State)
- CB Ian Wells (Ohio)
- TE Cole Wick (Incarnate Word) ($10K bonus, per Dave Birkett)
- G Andrew Zeller (Maryland)
Packers Sign 19 Undrafted Free Agents
The Packers have announced their undrafted rookies, confirming in a press release that they’ve added 19 college free agents to their 90-man roster. The team has added four wideouts to its already-crowded receiving corps, and also signed three cornerbacks. Here’s the full breakdown of the 19-man UDFA class for Green Bay:
- WR Geronimo Allison (Illinois)
- S Kentrell Brice (Louisiana Tech)
- LB Beniquez Brown (Mississippi State)
- QB Joe Callahan (Wesley)
- CB Makinton Dorleant (Northern Iowa)
- C Jacob Flores (Dartmouth)
- LB Reggie Gilbert (Arizona)
- TE David Grinnage (North Carolina State)
- CB Josh Hawkins (East Carolina)
- RB Don Jackson (Nevada) ($5K bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
- T Josh James (Carroll) ($1K bonus, per Wilson)
- CB Randall Jette (Massachusetts)
- DT Tyler Kuder (Idaho State) ($3K bonus, per Wilson)
- P Peter Mortell (Minnesota)
- WR Dennis Parks (Rice)
- LB Manoa Pikula (BYU)
- DT Brian Price (Texas)
- WR Devonte Robinson (Utah State) ($2K bonus, per Wilson)
- WR Herb Waters (Miami)
Buccaneers Sign Vernon Hargreaves
Four first-round picks have now formally signed their rookie contracts, with cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, the 11th overall pick last Thursday, joining Laremy Tunsil, Eli Apple, and Keanu Neal. Hargreaves signed his deal with the Buccaneers earlier today, the team announced via its website.
Hargreaves, who played his college ball at Florida, was the second cornerback to come off the board in the 2016 draft, having been selected one spot behind Apple, after the Buccaneers traded down from No. 9 to No. 11. He’ll compete for a starting job in Tampa Bay’s secondary this summer, joining free agent signee Brent Grimes at or near the top of the club’s new-look cornerback depth chart.
The four-year contract signed by Hargreaves comes with a fifth-year option for 2020, as is the case for all rookie deals for first-round picks. The overall value of Hargreaves’ pact is about $14.178MM, with a signing bonus worth $8.511MM, according to Over the Cap’s data.
In addition to locking up Hargreaves, the Buccaneers also confirmed that they’ve signed linebacker Devante Bond, the first of two players the team selected in the sixth round on Saturday.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Washington Signs 14 Undrafted Free Agents
As rookie minicamps open around the NFL, more and more teams are officially announcing their undrafted free agent signings. Washington did so this morning, adding 14 new players to the 90-man roster, according to the team’s official website. Here’s the complete list of the UDFAs headed to D.C.:
- T Kevin Bowen (East Central)
- S Tevin Carter (Utah)
- TE Michael Cooper (Indiana)
- LB Shiro Davis (Texas) ($5K signing bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
- WR Reggie Diggs (Richmond)
- LB Ejiro Ederaine (Fresno State)
- T Joe Gore (Clemson)
- WR Maurice Harris (California) ($3.5K signing bonus, per Wilson)
- G Dominick Jackson (Alabama)
- RB Rob Kelley (Tulane)
- FB Joe Kerridge (Michigan)
- DE Anthony Lanier (Alabama A&M)
- S Geno Matias-Smith (Alabama)
- WR Valdez Showers (Florida)