Today’s minor moves:
Los Angeles Chargers
- Claimed off waivers: TE Andrew Vollert
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: LB James Burgess
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Gunner Olszewski
Washington Redskins
- Signed: T Adam Bisnowaty
- Waived: T Chidi Okeke
49ers safety Jimmie Ward suffered a fractured collarbone while diving for a ball during Thursday’s organized team activities, according to Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). However, he should be able to return near the start of training camp, tweets Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Ward, a first-round pick in 2014, is no stranger to injury. As Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle notes (Twitter links), Ward finished the season on injured reserve in four of his first five NFL campaigns. He’s also broken his collarbone in the past, doing so in 2016.
The 27-year-old Ward has played all over the 49ers’ secondary, dabbling at both slot and outside corner in addition to playing safety. He was expected to compete with Adrian Colbert for free safety duties this offseason, but given that he’ll likely miss most if not all or training camp, Ward will be far behind in that positional battle.
Ward re-signed with the 49ers in March, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $4.5MM. However, roughly $1.5MM of that total, plus another $500K in incentives, is tied to Ward being on the field, so his most recent injury could affect his earnings if he suffers a setback.
The Panthers inquired on free agent defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, according to Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer (on Twitter). No visit has been scheduled just yet, but he’s squarely on Carolina’s radar. 
For those keeping score at home, that makes eight known teams with interest in the former Bucs standout:
The Bucs chose to release McCoy this week rather than pay him $13MM for 2019 or attempt to negotiate a pay cut. Even though Tampa preferred Suh (on a cheaper deal), McCoy was still quite productive in 2018 as he posted six sacks and brought his career total to 54.5.
The Panthers may struggle to find cap space for McCoy, but a lack of funding isn’t stopping contenders like the Saints, Patriots, or Falcons from pursuing him.
The Saints worked out some running backs on Thursday, including Fozzy Whittaker, Robert Kelley, and Buck Allen (Twitter link via Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune). All three vets are looking for a spot on the roster to backup top rushers Alvin Kamara and Lavavius Murray. 
Whittaker, 30, has spent the last five years with the Panthers, but lost his 2018 season to a torn ACL. For the most part, he was used as a reserve option and a third-down running back. He saw the most usage of his career in 2016 when he carried the ball 57 times and averaged an impressive 4.6 yards per try in that limited sample. In 2017, however, he had just seven carries in 12 games.
Kelley only suited up for two games with the Redskins last year thanks to a toe injury. Kelley averaged 4.2 yards per carry as a rookie in 2016, but has been unable to replicate that production.
Allen, meanwhile, saw time in 14 games for the Ravens last year, but averaged just 2.7 yards per rushing attempt. The former fourth-round pick had some moments early on in his career – including his 12 catches for 107 receiving yards against the Dolphins in 2015 – but has never topped the 4.0 YPC mark in any of his four NFL seasons.
May’s biggest free agent is officially off the board. On Thursday, the Buccaneers announced the signing of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Suh will receive a one-year deal worth $9.25MM with incentives that can push it to $10MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Suh’s arrival will give the Bucs a major stopper to replace six-time Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy, who was released on Monday. In essence, the Bucs swapped McCoy’s $13MM salary for Suh and defensive end Shaquil Barrett, who will earn a combined $13MM in 2019. With all due respect to McCoy, that’s a pretty outstanding value for Tampa.
Suh, 32, has five Pro Bowl nods and two First-Team All-Pro selections on his resume. Throughout his career, Suh has been one of the very best defensive tackles in the NFL with an impressive knack for finding the quarterback from the interior.
After five years with the Lions, Suh inked a six-year, $114MM with the Dolphins, making him the highest-paid defensive player in league history. Suh continued to play at a high level, but didn’t quite live up to the mammoth contract. Midway through, the Dolphins released him, paving the way for Suh to latch on with the Rams in 2018.
In L.A., Suh tallied 4.5 sacks and 59 tackles and graded out as the No. 20 ranked interior defender in the NFL. Those numbers aren’t in line with his best work, but it’s clear that the veteran still has a lot to offer for the Bucs.
Suh would have made sense for clubs like the Seahawks, Cowboys, Broncos, and Vikings, but the Bucs jumped at the opportunity to replace McCoy with the equally accomplished defender. Meanwhile, the deal brings Suh back to Florida, a no-income tax state.
The Broncos have agreed to terms with first-round pick Noah Fant, according to Mike Klis of 9News (on Twitter). The deal will pay the tight end $12.6MM and includes a fifth-year team option for the 2023 season. 
[RELATED: Latest On Broncos, Chris Harris]
Fant set collegiate career highs in catches (39) and receiving yards (519) last year to go along with seven touchdown receptions. Before that, he put himself on the national map in 2017 with a team-leading eleven TD catches.
Selected with the No. 20 overall pick, Fant profiles as the Broncos’ top receiving tight end. The Broncos also have tight ends Jake Butt, Jeff Heuerman, Bug Howard, Austin Fort, and Troy Fumagalli on the 90-man roster.
With Fant inked to his rookie deal, the Broncos have just three unsigned draft picks: offensive lineman Dalton Risner, quarterback Drew Lock and defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones.
Gerald McCoy will kick off his free agent tour by visiting the Browns on Friday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Browns GM John Dorsey has also confirmed that McCoy will meet with team brass (Twitter link). 
The Browns have been connected to McCoy for some time, but they decided against trading for the defensive tackle while he was under contract for $13MM in the upcoming season. After his Bucs release, the Browns might be able to sign him at a lesser rate without giving up any draft capital.
There’s also mutual interest between McCoy and the Ravens, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com hears. The Browns’ up-and-coming roster appeals to McCoy, per Cabot, but he also likes the Ravens’ top-ranked defense a lot and has some relationships in that locker room. The Patriots, Falcons, Saints, Colts, and Bengals are also interested in the six-time Pro Bowler.
The Jaguars have officially signed first-round pick Josh Allen. With the outside linebacker in the fold, the Jaguars now have all but one player in their 2019 draft class wrapped up. 
“It feels good to focus on football now, and just worry about football – and not worry about anything off the field,” the No. 7 overall pick said. “I know everything’s settled in now. I’m ready for my family to get down here, and be a Jacksonville Jaguar for life. I’m just ready to make a name for myself in the National Football League. It’s official. I’m officially a Jaguar. It feels great.”
The Kentucky product was widely projected to be off the board before Jacksonville took the podium, but the Jags got a couple of lucky breaks, including the Giants’ surprising decision to take Duke quarterback Daniel Jones at No. 6 overall.
Allen joins right tackle Jawaan Taylor (Round 2, No. 35 overall), tight end Josh Oliver (Round 3, No. 69), running back Ryquell Armstead (Round 5, No. 140), quarterback Gardner Minshew (Round 6, No. 178), and defensive tackle Dontavius Russell (Round 7, No. 235) as the Jags’ draft picks under contract. Third-round linebacker Quincy Williams stands as the last remaining straggler.
The Broncos and cornerback Chris Harris have made progress on a new deal, according to Mike Klis of 9News. There’s no agreement yet, but GM John Elway has exchanged multiple contract proposals in recent days with Harris’ agent. 
Harris has abstained from the Broncos’ voluntary workouts with the goal a lucrative multi-year extension. But, in what may be a promising development, the talks are currently focused on adjusting Harris’ 2019 payout of $8.9MM, the final year of his current deal. The Broncos gave Harris a $3MM incentive package to sweeten his $8.5MM payout last year and Elway seems poised to do something similar to keep his star cornerback happy.
Harris’ asking price has also come down from his initial ask of $15MM+, Klis hears, which should help to bridge the gap. Still, the Broncos will have to offer something of significant to ensure Harris’ presence for mandatory camp and the start of the regular season.
Free agent Gerald McCoy has at least six suitors in pursuit. The Falcons, Patriots, and Saints have shown a level of interest in McCoy since his release from the Buccaneers, according to ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine (on Twitter). As previously reported, the Bengals, Colts, and Browns are also looking into the defensive tackle. 
The Falcons have little in the way of cap space, so they’d have to get creative if they want to sign McCoy. But, after seeing his best work up close for nine seasons, they’re obviously motivated to find a way to make it work.
The Patriots would give McCoy an opportunity to win while pairing with Michael Bennett on the Patriots’ defensive line. The Pats haven’t had a versatile and dominant interior lineman of McCoy’s caliber since the retirement of Vince Wilfork, so he would fill a long-standing need for them.
Meanwhile, Saints quarterback Drew Brees is lobbying hard for McCoy to come to New Orleans.
“He’s a stud, he’s a great player,” Brees said this week. “I mean you’re basically asking me if I would love having a Pro Bowl defensive tackle that I’ve spent the last eight years trying to run around and avoid, not have hit me, join our team. Yeah, of course.”
But, like the Patriots and Falcons, the Saints are working with limited cap room.