HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Steelers Sign WR James Washington

May 11th, 2018 at 7:21pm CST by Micah Powell

The Steelers have signed their second-round pick (No. 60 overall) wide receiver James Washington to a four-year deal, Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams reports.

During the draft, the team sent receiver Martavis Bryant to the Raiders, so the Steelers were looking to fill the void left by the big-play, but often troubled receiver. They found their guy in Washington. The team will hope its recent run of selecting wide receivers continues with the college star, who joins Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster in a loaded aerial attack.

At Oklahoma State, the electric receiver set a new school record and finished second in Big 12 history with 4,472 career receiving yards. He added 39 receiving touchdowns during his career and claimed the prestigious Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver as a senior in 2017.

Washington said he is ready to step in and replace Bryant as the team’s go-to option on deep balls. “It all comes down to who wants it more, and nine times out of 10, I guarantee you I want it more,” Washington said.

The quarterback he achieved those eye-popping numbers with won’t be far away, either, after Pittsburgh selected Mason Rudolph in the following round as the potential successor to longtime signal-caller Ben Roethlisberger.

Texans Place Jeff Allen On PUP List

May 11th, 2018 at 7:00pm CST by Micah Powell

The Texas put starting right guard Jeff Allen on the reserve physically unable to perform list, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle writes.

Since signing a four-year deal with Houston in 2016, Allen has been plagued by injuries, including concussions and ankle ailments. With the move, the veteran will no longer count against the team’s 90-man offseason roster limit.

A second-round selection by the Chiefs in 2012, Allen spent four seasons in Kansas City where he primarily played left guard, but also spent time at left tackle and right tackle. He made the move to right guard upon his arrival in 2016 but has missed six games with those injury issues.

He has two years remaining on his deal, with base salaries of $5.75MM (2018) and $6MM (2019.

East Notes: Cowboys, Smith, Collins, Patriots, Jets

May 11th, 2018 at 6:36pm CST by Micah Powell

After sitting out his rookie year with ACL and LCL injuries in his left knee and playing last season in an AFO brace for drop foot, Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith has confirmed that he is no longer wearing the brace, the Star-Telegram’s Clarence Hill writes.

Smith said he has not worn the brace since he began working out in February. “Getting that flexion back is going to help tremendously … speed, quickness, explosiveness,” Smith said. “I have been feeling great. Everything is about getting back to 100 percent. Every day I am improving.”

A highly touted prospect coming out of Notre Dame, Smith fell to the second round in 2016 after suffering the serious knee injury in his final collegiate game. He returned to the field in 2017 and finished second on the team with 99 tackles despite inconsistent performances.

After a subpar showing in 2017, the Cowboys decided to address the linebacker group in the first round of the 2018 Draft by selecting Boise State’s Leighton Vander Esch. The rookie is expected to slide right in at middle linebacker, while Smith and Sean Lee man the outside spots.

Here’s more from around the East:

  • Sticking with the Cowboys, it was reported earlier in the week that third-year defensive tackle Maliek Collins broke his foot during the team’s offseason program. The Dallas Morning News’ David Moore now reports the run-clogging lineman is likely to undergo surgery early next week (Twitter link). The injury is expected to sideline him for around three months, and the hope is he will return around the middle of training camp.
  • The Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels spurned a head-coaching gig with the Colts to return to New England in 2018. Though head coach Bill Belichick has said he would take his mentorship “to the next level,” McDaniels told the Providence Journal’s Mark Daniels that his role remains the same in 2018. Though his role will stay the same, McDaniels is surely being groomed to take over once the future Hall of Fame coach decides to call it quits.
  • Jets CEO Christopher Johnson is convinced first-round pick Sam Darnold will be a turning point in the franchise’s history, the New York Post’s Brian Lewis writes. “I honestly think they’re going to look back 20 years from now and say this is the moment the Jets shifted into a new year, that they became a great team,” Johnson said. Darnold was heralded by many as the top quarterback in the draft but fell to New York when the Browns opted for Baker Mayfield at No. 1.
  • Also with the Jets, the teams lost its director of college scouting, Matt Bazirgan, who left to become the Texans’ director of player personnel, the New York Post’s Brian Costello writes. He had been with the Jets since 2004 as a college scout. This marks the second straight year the team has had to replace the position.

Patriots Sign Nine UDFAs

May 11th, 2018 at 5:26pm CST by Micah Powell

The Patriots have signed nine undrafted free agents. Here’s the complete list:

  • Darren Andrews, WR (UCLA)
  • John Atkins, DL (Georgia)
  • Trent Harris, DL (Miami)
  • Frank Herron, DB (Maryland)
  • Chris Lacy, WR (Oklahoma State)
  • A.J. Moore, DB (Mississippi)
  • Ralph Webb, RB (Vanderbilt)
  • Shane Wimann, TE (Northern Illinois)

Andrews recorded 162 catches for 1,977 yards and 15 touchdowns with the Bruins. Despite his slight frame — 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds — the shifty wideout was a threat on the outside catching passes from first-round signal-caller Josh Rosen.

Webb finished his career with the Commodores as the sixth-ranked rusher in SEC history with 4,128 yards. According to The Tennessean, he became just the third player of the SEC’s top-50 all-time leading rushers, joining Kentucky’s Rafael Little and Tennessee’s Arian Foster, who went on to earn four Pro Bowl selections. He received $70,000 guaranteed — $20,000 signing bonus and $50,000 base salary — and is a solid bet to at least make the practice squad, according to the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin (Twitter link).

Colts Claim Rakeem Nunez-Roches

May 11th, 2018 at 4:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Rakeem Nunez-Roches spent three seasons with the Chiefs before being waived midway through his fourth offseason, but he had a familiar voice vouching for him.

The Colts claimed the defensive lineman off waivers on Friday. Second-year Colts GM Chris Ballard was with the Chiefs when they drafted Nunez-Roches in 2015.

The 6-foot-2, 307-pound defender started 11 games for the AFC West champions last season and has played both end and tackle in his career. Prior to last season, Nunez-Roches mostly served as an off-the-bench defender for the Chiefs. He’s made 1.5 career sacks and 51 tackles.

This will be Nunez-Roches’ first time working in a 4-3 scheme, and he’ll likely play defensive tackle under Matt Eberflus. The Colts cut Johnathan Hankins this offseason and added three defensive ends in the form of Denico Autry, Chris McCain and second-rounder Tyquan Lewis.

Falcons Sign DT Terrell McClain

May 11th, 2018 at 4:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Falcons have won the Terrell McClain sweepstakes. The team announced an agreement with the UFA defensive tackle, and McClain will stay in Atlanta after taking an extensive post-draft tour.

McClain visited the Dolphins, 49ers, Cowboys and Falcons, making the trip to Atlanta on Friday. Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports this is expected to be a one-year agreement and the max value of the contract will be more than $4MM (Twitter link).

A former Cowboys starter, McClain was in Dallas on Thursday and worked out for some of his former coaches. The Cowboys were negotiating terms with the 29-year-old defender on Thursday, and Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram noted (via Twitter) McClain received offers from multiple teams. Rod Marinelli wanted him to return to Dallas, per Hill, but he’ll join a sixth NFL franchise instead.

McClain stabilized his career with the Cowboys, playing three seasons and being a full-time starter in 2016. He used that season as a springboard to a semi-lucrative deal with the Redskins, but they released him just after the draft. He’ll now join a Falcons defense that houses Grady Jarrett and Jack Crawford on its interior. The Falcons were linked to Da’Ron Payne on draft night in a would-be trade-up scenario, but they stood pat and have now opted to add veteran help instead.

Cowboys Sign 8 Draft Choices

May 11th, 2018 at 4:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys now have all but one of their nine 2018 draft choices signed. Headlined by linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, Dallas reached agreements with everyone but third-round wide receiver Michael Gallup on Friday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports. Here’s the full list of signees:

The structure of the Boise State product’s contract slightly held up the team’s proceedings with its top draft investment, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Clarence Hill (Twitter link), but he’s now signed up. Vander Esch will earn approximately $11.847MM and collect a $6.696MM signing bonus.

Vander Esch met with numerous teams that held picks in the middle of the first round, and despite needs at both pass-catching positions, the Cowboys selected the Mountain West Conference standout. Connor Williams also didn’t play a position of dire need, given Dallas’ three All-Pro linemen, but he’s now in the mix for the team’s left guard spot.

Despite being unsigned, Gallup is working out at the Cowboys’ rookie minicamp on Friday. Many third-round picks around the league have yet to sign. This is an annual tradition due to the CBA’s gray area regarding third-rounders’ compensation.

Lions Sign Frank Ragnow, 2 Others

May 11th, 2018 at 3:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Add Frank Ragnow to the list of first-round picks who have signed their rookie deals. The Lions came to terms with their top draft choice, and this draft’s first center chosen, on Friday. Here’s the full list of Friday agreements heading into Detroit’s rookie minicamp:

Ragnow figures to immediately compete for a starting job in the Motor City. The Lions allowed starting center Travis Swanson to defect to the Jets, but they added ex-Jets starting snapper Wesley Johnson in free agency. Detroit was considering moving Graham Glasgow from guard to center, but the Ragnow addition may keep him at guard, where he fared well last season.

The former Razorback was a consensus All-American last season, and Pro Football Focus twice bestowed first-team All-American honors on Ragnow — in both his junior and senior slates. The draft slot system will place Ragnow’s rookie deal at $11.8MM over the customary four years, with an approximate $6.6MM signing bonus, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link).

This leaves only third-round pick Tracey Walker, a safety out of Louisiana-Lafayette, as Detroit’s only unsigned pick.

Lions Bring In 16 UDFAs

May 11th, 2018 at 2:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the last UDFA contingents to be unveiled, the Lions have announced their 16-man group. Here’s the full rundown:

This class interestingly houses two members of Southeast Missouri’s most recent defense. Ford led the Redhawks with 14 passes defensed last season and finished with 28 bench press reps at his pro day. Meredith was a first-team all-conference performer as a junior in 2016. Having started 41 career games at Appalachian State, Nunn finished last season with the fewest pressures allowed among full-time Division I-FBS players.

Detroit will bring in four cornerbacks after not using one of its six draft choices at this spot. The Lions did add former Seahawks corner DeShawn Shead in free agency and have 2017 second- and fifth-round picks Teez Tabor and Jamal Agnew on their roster.

Texans Add 13 UDFAs

May 11th, 2018 at 2:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Texans are the latest team to unveil their post-draft free agent haul. Here’s their 13-man contingent:

Malone is the son of NBA legend Karl Malone. The 6-foot-4 K.J. Malone played left tackle at LSU but will evidently be tried at guard initially as a pro. The Texans are listing Coyle as a guard as well despite the Fordham-honed prospect playing tackle in college.

Houston re-signed Shane Lechler, so it’s unlikely, barring something extraordinary, Daniel has a path to the 53-man roster. Coleman and Swanson will battle for a role behind Lamar Miller and D’Onta Foreman. The Texans did not draft a running back, but they re-signed Alfred Blue this offseason and have Troymaine Pope and Tyler Ervin on their 90-man roster.

Interestingly, the only Division II player in this group will collect the most bonus money. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (Twitter link) Smith signed for a $35K — comprised of a $10K signing bonus and a $25K base salary guarantee. Jones-Smith will collect $22K ($10K signing bonus, $12K base guarantee), and Swanson will earn $21K guaranteed ($15K guaranteed base and $6K signing bonus), per Wilson (Twitter links).

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