HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Packers Sign CB Jaire Alexander

May 15th, 2018 at 10:24am CST by Zachary Links

The Packers announced the signing of first-round pick Jaire Alexander. The cornerback out of Louisville was the No. 18 overall selection in the draft.

Alexander put himself squarely in the Round 1 conversation despite missing time with a knee injury in 2017. Some evaluators had concerns about Alexander’s slender build leading to another injury, but the potential was too much for Green Bay to pass up.

The Packers moved around on draft night and still came away with the cornerback they wanted. The Packers shipped their original pick to the Saints for the No. 27 pick, a fifth-round choice, and the Saints’ first-round selection in 2019. Then, the Packers moved up nine spots by giving up their third and sixth-round choices in a swap with the Seahawks.

Alexander will get an opportunity to prove himself right off the bat with the Packers as he projects to start alongside free agent addition Tramon Williams. Veteran Davon House, 2017 second-round pick Kevin King, and this year’s second-rounder Josh Jackson are also in support.

As shown on PFR’s rookie contract tracker, the Alexander signing leaves Jackson and third-round linebacker Oren Burks as the last remaining unsigned members of the Packers’ draft class.

David Tepper To Purchase Panthers

May 15th, 2018 at 10:06am CST by Zachary Links

Steelers’ minority owner David Tepper is expected to sign the deal today to buy the Panthers, league sources tell Seth Wickersham and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The deal will be finalized upon the NFL’s approval at the league meetings on Tuesday, May 22.

The $2.2 billion sale marks a new NFL record, though it was not necessarily the highest bid. During the process, there have been rumblings of bids in the $2.5 billion range. Late last year, there was some talk of a sale in the neighborhood of $3 billion, but that never came to pass.

However, Tepper’s purchase comes mostly in cash, which gave him a leg-up over the competition. He’s also a slam dunk to pass the NFL’s vetting process since he already owns a piece of the Steelers and the Panthers likely wanted to move on from the Jerry Richardson situation as quickly as possible.

The sale is indicative of the continued growth and health of the league, despite some fretting in 2017 over sagging television ratings. It’s also likely a product of the Supreme Court’s recent decision to allow states to legalize gambling. The decision from the country’s highest court is expected to open up new revenue streams for sports league, boost overall interest, and bring new fans into the fold.

In terms of football operations, it remains to be seen how the purchase affects the team. What we do know, per Schefter, is that Tepper will keep the team in Carolina. Meanwhile, Tepper is hoping to bring the Steeler way to Charlotte as he will emphasize “continuity, stability, progressive thinking on player contract extensions, and not setting the market on free agents,” per Schefter (Twitter link).

Colts Release CB Kenneth Acker

May 15th, 2018 at 9:45am CST by Zachary Links

Kenneth Acker‘s time with the Colts was short-lived. One month after signing with Indianapolis, Acker has been released, according to a press release. To fill his spot on the roster, the Colts signed undrafted rookie safety Michael Cirino. 

The Colts signed Acker for depth following the departure of Rashaan Melvin. Acker was never in line for a starting job, but he seemed like he could have offered support from the bench along with the returning Pierre Desir. Apparently, Acker didn’t cut it on the practice field.

Acker has played in 40 career games, including 15 starts, over the course of his four-year NFL career with the Chiefs (2016-17) and 49ers (2014-15). The Seahawks also showed some interest in him before he landed in Indy.

Cirino totaled 55 tackles, two tackles for loss, 13 passes defensed, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles in two years at Division II Adams State.

East Rumors: Redskins, Jets, Collins, Pats

May 14th, 2018 at 9:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the candidates to work as the Redskins‘ starting left guard may not be able to factor into that competition. Arie Kouandjio is believed to have suffered a torn quadriceps muscle, JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington reports. Kouandjio’s season is now in jeopardy, per Finlay, who notes this injury could sideline him for the rest of 2018. Despite not making the Redskins’ 53-man roster out of camp, Kouandjio started the final six games for Washington at guard after the Redskins signed him off the Ravens’ practice squad. The 2015 Washington fourth-round pick made two starts in 2016 as well. Washington re-signed Shawn Lauvao, and Finlay notes it’s uncertain if Kouandjio suffered this significant malady before or after that agreement occurred. The 30-year-old Lauvao’s been the Redskins’ primary left guard since the 2014 season. The team also drafted Louisville tackle Geron Christian and still has Ty Nsekhe in the backup mix.

Here’s the latest from the East divisions:

  • Cowboys third-year starter Maliek Collins underwent foot surgery on Monday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports. He broke a bone in his foot last week. Dallas’ goal is for its first-unit defensive tackle to be ready by the end of training camp and hopefully be in line to play in Week 1, per Archer. Collins underwent a similar foot operation in January and underwent a foot procedure in the 2016 offseason as well.
  • Lorenzo Mauldin missed all of the 2017 season because of a back injury, and Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News notes there’s an increasing feeling at Jets headquarters the outside linebacker will be a training camp cut. The 2015 third-round pick has made four starts since entering the league. That said, the Jets are thin at edge rusher post-draft. They re-signed David Bass this offseason and added other possible depth pieces in Kevin Pierre-Louis and Brandon Copeland.
  • Sean McVay‘s departure appears to have helped influence the Redskins to protect another young decision-maker. The franchise recently jettisoned longtime scout Scott Campbell, and Rich Tandler of NBC Sports Washington notes that 34-year-old exec Kyle Smith ran this year’s draft after Campbell held that responsibility in 2017. The Redskins are envisioning Smith playing a big role for the franchise in the coming years, per Tandler. Smith is the son of former Chargers GM A.J. Smith.
  • The Patriots will bring in martial arts expert Joe Kim to help as a pass-rushing consultant, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reports. Kim’s consulted with 10 teams in the past, most recently with the 2016 Browns, but his first NFL job was with Bill Belichick when he was the original Browns’ head coach in 1992.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/14/18

May 14th, 2018 at 9:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves (so far):

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

  • Signed: DE Da’Sean Downey

Buffalo Bills

  • Signed: FB Zach Olstad
  • Waived/Injured: RB Aaron Green

Carolina Panthers

  • Signed: WR Bug Howard, C Kyle Friend, T/G Quinterrius Eatmon, DE Karter Schult
  • Waived/Injured: CB Zack Sanchez

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

  • Signed: WR Deontez Alexander, TE Marcus Lucas, CB Josh Okonye
  • Waived: WR Kyle Lewis
  • Waived/Injured: TE Brandon Barnes

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Rams

  • Signed: QB Luis Perez 

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Oakland Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Signed: WR/KR Tim Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: TE Clayton Wilson

Washington Redskins

Draft Pick Signings: 5/14/18

May 14th, 2018 at 9:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s draft pick agreements.

  • Two Chiefs Day 3 draftees agreed to terms on Monday. Kansas City signed Texas safety Armani Watts (Round 4, pick 124) and Tennessee lineman Kahlil McKenzie (Round 6, pick 198), Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports (Twitter links). The son of Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie, Kahlil most recently played defensive tackle for the Volunteers. But the Chiefs are beginning his NFL career as a guard. Watts figures to push for a starting job for a Chiefs team that released Ron Parker.
  • The Bengals signed their final pick of the draft in Florida State wide receiver Auden Tate, whom Cincinnati selected in the seventh round (No. 253 overall).
  • Ohio’s other team signed a fifth-round pick Monday, with the Browns agreeing to terms with Memphis linebacker Genard Avery (Round 5, pick 150).
  • Jon Gruden‘s presumptive Marquette King replacement also signed today. Florida punter Johnny Townsend (Round 5, pick 173) signed his four-year Raiders deal.
  • The 49ers signed a fellow former Gator — No. 184 overall pick — in sixth-rounder Marcell Harris, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com tweets. San Francisco now has six of its nine selections under contract.

Brian Robison To Return For 12th Season

May 14th, 2018 at 6:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brian Robison has decided to play at least one more season. The Vikings defensive end and the franchise’s longest-tenured active player announced (via Twitter) on Monday he will return to the team.

The 2007 draftee wavered on a previous stance that indicated he would play through the 2018 season, commenting after the Vikings’ season concluded that it wasn’t a surefire proposition he would return. Now, the 35-year-old defender will try for another season in Minnesota.

Having played in all but three games since the start of the 2007 season, Robison ranks fifth in Vikings history with 60 sacks. He stands to occupy a depth role again on Minnesota’s defensive line, being stationed behind Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter on the depth chart. Robison moved back into a bench role after being a full-time starter from 2011-16. Nevertheless, Robison enjoyed a busy workload last season, playing 642 snaps.

However, the Vikings also drafted two defensive ends this year — in fourth-rounder Jalyn Holmes and sixth-rounder Ade Aruna — so the franchise is preparing for Robison’s eventual departure. Robison stands to make $3.2MM in base salary as a part of his revised contract.

Cardinals Rookie WR Christian Kirk Arrested

May 14th, 2018 at 5:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Cardinals second-round wide receiver Christian Kirk will come into the NFL with a recent arrest on his record.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic reports the Texas A&M product was arrested for disorderly conduct and property damage in February. Kirk and some friends were seen throwing rocks at cars at the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open. The police report indicates Kirk and the others were intoxicated leaving the golf tournament and throwing rocks at cars in the parking lot.

The Cardinals knew about this arrest before the draft, and Somers adds the case is still pending. Kirk attended Arizona’s minicamp and is expected to attend OTAs, which begin Tuesday.

“We spoke with Christian about it at length and also looked into it independently,” the team said in a statement. “Our understanding is that the process will be resolved in the near future but while it remains an active legal matter, we won’t comment further.”

Kirk, who is not believed to have been in trouble in high school or college, per Somers, is expected to play a key role for the Cardinals this season. The team lost both John Brown and Jaron Brown in free agency but used a second-round pick on Kirk, who starred at A&M.

Jets Planning Kenny Vaccaro Visit

May 14th, 2018 at 5:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

After months of gridlock, teams are making arrangements to meet with some of this free agent class’ top safeties.

Kenny Vaccaro could be on his way to a second visit this week. If the Colts summit does not produce a signing, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reports (on Twitter) Vaccaro will visit the Jets.

A Jets fit would be interesting, with New York having invested its 2017 first- and second-round picks in the position, but Vaccaro also has experience in the slot. And Garafolo notes he could potentially play linebacker in sub-packages.

Both Vaccaro and Tre Boston are meeting with the Colts on Monday, with Garafolo adding the Vaccaro/Indy meeting will begin tonight. Veteran signings teams make now do not count toward the compensatory formula, likely accelerating the action on the non-Eric Reid safety market.

A 2013 Saints first-round pick and five-year starter, Vaccaro also visited the Dolphins this offseason. Behind Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye, the Jets are thin at safety. The recently re-signed Terrance Brooks and 2016 UDFA Doug Middleton comprise Gang Green’s depth here. Slot corner Buster Skrine remains on the roster despite a hefty salary.

Jets Waive K Nick Rose

May 14th, 2018 at 5:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although no kickers appeared in the Jets’ draft class or their post-draft free agent haul, the team did sign one shortly after. And it looks like it will force Nick Rose to look for work elsewhere.

The Jets waived Rose on Monday, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets. New York submitted a successful waiver claim for Rose last month but earlier in May added former Texas A&M kicker Taylor Bertolet. Cairo Santos also signed with the Jets early in free agency, and he’ll have to beat out a less experienced kicker now as opposed to being involved in a competition with Rose.

The 24-year-old Rose kicked in six games for the Redskins and Chargers last season. He made 11 of 14 field goals and 18 of 20 extra points. Both teams brought him aboard midseason, the Redskins doing so because of a Dustin Hopkins injury and the Bolts making Rose one of several kickers they deployed during a wild season at the position.

Rose kicked at Texas from 2012-15, the same time span Bertolet was the Aggies’ kicker.

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