2019 May - Pro Football Rumors

The Packers are almost finished signing their entire draft class. General manager Brian Gutekunst announced today that the team has signed second-round offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins.

The team used their lone second-rounder (44th overall) on the Mississippi State product. The six-foot-four, 310-pound lineman had a standout college career, allowing only a single sack over his final two seasons (762 snaps). Jenkins started 34 games during his time at Mississippi State, including 26 at center.

The lineman has also spent time at both offensive tackle and offensive guard, and his versatility will make him an intriguing prospect in Green Bay. The organization signed veteran Billy Turner earlier this offseason, and the team is also rostering capable starters in David Bakhtiari, Lane Taylor, Corey Linsley, and Bryan Bulaga. In other words, despite his draft position, Jenkins may be starting the season on the bench.

With today’s signing, the Packers have now inked seven of their eight picks to contracts, including first-rounders defensive end Rashan Gary and safety Darnell Savage. Third-round tight end Jace Sternberger is the lone draft pick who remains unsigned.

Chiefs QB E.J. Manuel Retires

May 13th, 2019 at 4:19pm CST by Zachary Links

Quarterback E.J. Manuel has retired from the NFL, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Manuel signed with the Chiefs this offseason, but he’ll walk away from the sport instead of continuing down that path.

Manuel, 29, has not suited up since his 2017 season with the Raiders. Before that, the former first-round pick spent the first four years of his career with the Bills. All in all, Manuel exits the NFL with a lifetime 6-12 record, a 58.1% completion percentage, and 20 touchdowns against 16 interceptions. The Florida State product did not live up to his first-round draft billing, but he made millions playing football at a professional level.

Manuel’s retirement still leaves the Chiefs with six QBs on the offseason roster: Patrick Mahomes, Chad Henne, T.J. Linta, Chase Litton, John Lovett, and Kyle Shurmur.

Saints Sign DT Sylvester Williams

May 13th, 2019 at 4:15pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have signed defensive tackle Sylvester Williams, according to a team announcement. The former first-round pick auditioned for the Saints way back in October and showed enough during this month’s rookie minicamp to earn a deal.

Williams was an All-American at North Carolina, which helped him become a first round pick of the Broncos back in 2013. Williams spent the first four years of his career with Denver, but didn’t have his fifth-year option picked up. He signed a three-year pact with the Titans, but was released after just one year. After stops in Detroit and Miami, he’ll try to get back on track in New Orleans.

Between Miami and Detroit, Williams appeared in 14 games last season, including four starts. He’s managed to be a decent run-stuffer in the past, and is still only 30. The Saints had one of the league’s best defensive lines and run defenses last year, but standout defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins tore his Achilles right at the end of the year, so Williams could offer some value as a depth addition.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/13/19

May 13th, 2019 at 3:04pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s lower round draft pick signings here:

The Lions inked fourth-round defensive end Austin Bryant, sixth-round running back Ty Johnson, seventh-round tight end Isaac Nauta, and seventh-round defensive tackle P.J. Johnson. Bryant, a Clemson product, is a pass rush specialist who routinely used his length to get to the quarterback. He put himself on the map with 8.5 sacks as a junior and followed that up with another eight sacks as a senior. There are questions about whether his pass-rush ability is enough to offset his deficiencies against the run, but the Lions were more than happy to take a chance on him in the fourth round.
The Colts signed fourth-round safety Khari Willis and fifth-round defensive back Marvell Tell III. Willis was one of Michigan’s top high school players as a running back, but found his calling in the secondary at Michigan State. Tell, meanwhile, made three interceptions as USC’s starting free safety last year.
The Giants signed a pair of fifth-round picks: wide receiver Darius Slayton and linebacker Ryan Connelly. The Giants still have a lot of work ahead for them in signing their draft class, including first-round picks Daniel Jones and Dexter Lawrence.

Ravens To Meet With Matt Longacre

May 13th, 2019 at 1:51pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens will meet with edge rusher Matt Longacre on Monday, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). This marks the first known visit of the offseason for the 27-year-old.

To date, Longacre has spent his entire four-year career with the Rams. On the verge of his age-28 season, he could be on the verge of changing conferences.

Last year, Longacre appeared in 13 games and made seven starts in the Rams’ star-studded front seven. He finished out with 17 tackles, one sack, and six QB hits.

Vikings’ Mike Zimmer On Kyle Rudolph

May 13th, 2019 at 1:47pm CST by Zachary Links

It doesn’t sound like Kyle Rudolph will be with the Vikings for much longer. On Monday, head coach Mike Zimmer was asked about Rudolph’s status and hinted at a parting of ways.

“I’ve had conversations with Kyle and quite honestly I really love all my players,” Zimmer said (Twitter link via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press). “We expect Kyle to be here but sometimes business gets in the way.”

Zimmer’s comment jibes with last week’s report that contract negotiations between the Vikings and the tight end have come to a stop. The Vikings can save upwards of $7MM by moving on from Rudolph and the arival of second-round pick Irv Smith Jr. may give the team enough confidence to drop the veteran.

Rudolph is due $7.275MM in base pay for 2019 while Smith is set to make less than $5.8MM over the life of his four-year rookie deal.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/13/19

May 13th, 2019 at 12:56pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Arizona Cardinals

Signed: RB Dontae Strickland
Waived: CB Ryan Pulley, TE Jerome Washington

Baltimore Ravens

Signed: QB Jalan McClendon, G Patrick Vahe

Buffalo Bills

Signed: S Abraham Wallace, OL Garrett McGhin, DT Quindarius Thagard
Released: TE Jake Fisher, RB Keith Ford

Chicago Bears

Bears Signed: WR Jesper Horsted
Waived: G Tommy Doles

Cleveland Browns

Signed: RB L.J. Scott
Released: RB Devante Mays

Denver Broncos

Signed: TE Bug Howard, OL Nathan Jacobson, DL Deyon Sizer, DL DeShawn Williams
Released: TE Temarrick Hemingway, DL Caushaud Lyons, OL Brian Wallace, DL Jaylen Johnson

New York Giants

Re-Signed: DL John Jenkins

Philadelphia Eagles

Waived: RB Nico Evans, QB Luis Perez

Tennessee Titans

Signed: TE Parker Hesse, WR Cody Hollister

Chargers Re-Sign Damion Square

May 13th, 2019 at 11:29am CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers have re-signed defensive tackle Damion Square on a one-year deal, according to a team announcement. Financial terms of the deal are not yet known.

Square, 30, has spent most of the past five seasons with the Chargers, appearing in 49 games with the club since 2014. An undrafted free agent who began his pro tenure with stints in Philadelphia and Kansas City, Square set a career-high in starts (11), tackles (31), and sacks (three) in 2018.

A better run-stuffer than a pass-rusher, Square played on roughly half of Los Angeles’ snaps a year ago but graded as a bottom-three interior defender, per Pro Football Focus. Over the course of four-plus years with the Bolts, Square has 5.5 sacks to his credit.

Square met with the Titans in April, but left Nashville without a deal.

Gunther Cunningham Dead At 72

May 13th, 2019 at 9:53am CST by Zachary Links

Former Chiefs head coach and longtime NFL assistant Gunther Cunningham has died at the age of 72. Cunningham, who most recently served as a senior coaching assistant with the Lions, was beloved around the league.

“Gunther Cunningham will forever be remembered as one of the great men of our game,” the Lions said in a statement. “He left a lasting impact on every person who was fortunate enough to work alongside him during his more than 47 years as a coach – including 34 years in the National Football League, the final eight of which were spent here in Detroit. Our organization is truly honored and proud to have been included in his distinguished coaching legacy. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his wife, René, and their entire family.”

Cunningham began his coaching career at the University of Oregon in 1969 and moved to the pro ranks in 1982 with the Lions. In 1995, he got his big break when the Chiefs appointed him as their defensive coordinator. Four years later, he was elevated to the head coaching position, where he went .500 over two years before being fired. Along the way, he also had stops with the Colts, Titans, Chargers, and Raiders.

Years later, Cunningham would return as the Chiefs’ DC and took on the same job with the Lions between 2009-2013.

We here at PFR extend our condolences to Cunningham’s loved ones.