2022 May - Pro Football Rumors

Ravens Sign 17 UDFAs

May 6th, 2022 at 1:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

The next team to announce their class of undrafted free agents is the Ravens. Here are their additions:

WR Slade Bolden, Alabama
WR Shemar Bridges, Fort Valley State
QB Anthony Brown, Oregon
WR Trevon Clark, California
OT Aron Johnson, South Dakota State
LB Zakoby McClain, Auburn
LB Jeremiah Moon, Florida
S Chris Moore, Georgia State
DT Rayshad Nichols, Stephen F. Austin
RB Ricky Person, North Carolina State
WR Makai Polk, Mississippi State
LB Josh Ross, Michigan
CB David Vereen, Newberry
WR Raleigh Webb, The Citadel
LB Chuck Wiley, UTSA
CB Denzel Williams, Villanova
WR Devon Williams, Oregon

Brown’s college career had produced little in three years at Boston College. His transfer to Oregon, however, led to a rise in his stock. In 2021, he led the Ducks to a 10-win season and the Pac-12 championship game. Along the way, he set career highs in passing yards (2,989), completion percentage (64.1) and total touchdown (28). He is unlikely to unseat fellow former UDFA Tyler Huntley as the team’s backup QB, but will compete for the No. 3 role.

Another notable takeaway from the list is the number of receivers. More specifically, size is an element shared by most of the wideouts; other than Bolden, they range from six-foot-two to six-foot-five. Some were surprised by the fact the Ravens didn’t add to the position despite seeing Sammy Watkins leave in free agency, waiving Miles Boykin and trading away Marquise Brown. That should leave the door open for a prospect like Polk (who posted 105 catches for 1,046 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021) in particular to fill out the depth chart.

Chiefs Sign First-Rounder George Karlaftis

May 6th, 2022 at 12:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Chiefs had two picks to work with on Day 1 of last week’s draft. The first was used to help bolster their secondary, while the second, edge rusher George Karlaftis, will add to their front seven. Kansas City has agreed to terms with him on his rookie deal, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link).

Karlaftis had a productive three-year career at Purdue. His freshman season was his best, as he totalled 54 tackles, including 17 for a loss, as well as 7.5 sacks. While he was limited to just two games the following year, he bounced back in 2021, earning Third-Team All-American honors.

One of the best power rushers in this year’s class, the Greece native has the frame (six-foot-four, 275 pounds) to hold up against NFL competition. Given his build and lack of fluidity relative to other edge players, though, there are questions surrounding where he would best be served to line up, especially early in his career. Still, his combination of size, technique and upside left no one surprised when the Chiefs selected him 30th overall.

In Kansas City, Karlaftis will join an edge group headed by Frank Clark. The team’s recent decision to use a UFA tender on veteran Melvin Ingram points to a re-signing in the near future, but Karlaftis should still be able to see significant playing time right away and throughout his four- (or five-) year tenure on his rookie deal.

Eagles Eyeing Jim Nagy, Brandon Hunt For Executive Roles

May 6th, 2022 at 12:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles have experienced another offseason of significant losses in their front office. Two of the names they are considering to help fill the voids are Jim Nagy and Brandon Hunt, per Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

McLane reports that both Nagy and Hunt are in consideration for the position of vice president of football operations. That role was vacated earlier this week when it was reported that Catherine Raiche would be joining the Browns as, in essence, their assistant general manager.

The team has already interviewed Nagy, who is most well-known around the league for his contributions to the NFL Draft. For the past three seasons, Nagy has served as director of the Senior Bowl, the annual all-star game held in Mobile, Alabama which is a staple of the pre-draft process. Before that, he worked as an area scout for the Seahawks, so he would be familiar with an NFL front office.

The same is true, of course, with Hunt, the pro scouting director of the Steelers. He has a long, accomplished tenure with the organization, leading many to believe he is a serious contender to succeed Kevin Colbert as Pittsburgh’s next general manager. He has already interviewed for the position once, and may do so a second time as the team’s search heats up. As McLane notes, Hunt was a finalist for the director of player personnel job in Philadelphia in 2016.

If either candidate were to be hired, they would “report to general manager Howie Roseman“, leaving VP of player personnel Andy Weidl at the head of the team’s scouting department. With that said, Weidl – whose brother Casey was just fired from his position as scouting director – has been named as a candidate for the GM job in Pittsburgh, where he began his career.

Overall, the way the Eagles re-stock their front office, and the effects it has on their cross-state rival, will be worth watching as the offseason progresses.

K.J. Wright Eyeing Seahawks Return

May 6th, 2022 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

Free agent linebacker K.J. Wright spent a season in a city other than Seattle for the first time in his NFL career last year, but he wants to avoid a repeat of that in 2022. When speaking with Pro Football Network’s Trey Wingo, the veteran expressed his desire to return to the Seahawks (video link).

“I just want to go back home” he said when asked about his ideal scenario for the upcoming campaign. “I think it’s that simple. Seattle knows that I want to come back. They know how much they mean to me.”

Wright, 32, was a fourth round pick of the Seahawks in 2011. He went on to play 144 games with the team across 10 seasons, playing a part in the ‘Legion of Boom’ defense. Forming a tandem with Bobby Wagner in the middle of the unit, he provided consistent production, topping 100 tackles five times. In 2016, he earned his lone Pro Bowl appearance after totalling 126 stops and a career-high four sacks.

Last offseason, however, his time on the open market dragged into September. Wright maintained throughout the spring that he wished to remain in the Emerald City, but it became clear that the team was prepared to move on. As a result, the Mississippi State alum signed with the Raiders weeks after visiting the team. In Vegas, he took on a much smaller role in terms of playing time than he was used to, starting only eight of 17 games.

Now, Wright is again hoping to sign another deal with the Seahawks. The team released Wagner and didn’t draft a linebacker last weekend, but it remains to be seen if they would be interested in a reunion. If not, Wright may be willing to hang up his cleats for good.

“My family didn’t come with me [to Vegas]” he said. “I’m not doing that again. I don’t think I’m going to move my family anywhere across the country. If it’s not Seattle again, I’ll be happy. I’ll be content.”

Pete Carroll Doesn’t Envision Seahawks Trading For QB

May 5th, 2022 at 10:22pm CST by Ben Levine

The Seahawks continue to be mentioned as a suitor for one of the several available veteran QBs. However, coach Pete Carroll doesn’t envision the organization adding to the position, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson (on Twitter).

“I don’t see us making a trade for anybody at all,” Carroll told reporters. “I don’t see that happening.”

After trading Russell Wilson earlier this offseason, the Seahawks have been connected to a number of available quarterbacks, including Baker Mayfield (who mentioned the Seahawks himself) and Jimmy Garoppolo. The Seahawks make sense as a landing spot; after all, the team’s options at quarterback are currently Geno Smith and Drew Lock. The team is also rostering former Colts fourth-round pick Jacob Eason and recent UDFA addition Levi Lewis.

Lock, who was acquired in the Wilson trade, struggled during his three seasons in Denver. Despite his second-round pedigree, the QB went 8-13 as a starter while tossing 25 touchdowns vs. 20 interceptions. Smith stepped in for the injured Wilson midway through the 2021 campaign. In four total appearances (including three starts), he threw for 702 yards and five touchdowns, completing over 68% of his passes.

The organization was expected to address the position at some point this offseason. They didn’t end up adding a QB in the draft, so no matter what Carroll says publicly, the team will likely be connected to any available quarterbacks until the trade deadline (or until they end up making a move).

Patriots Waive LB Terez Hall

May 5th, 2022 at 8:43pm CST by Ben Levine

Terez Hall earned his walking papers today. The Patriots announced that they have waived the linebacker with a failed physical.

Hall joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri in 2019. After spending his entire rookie season on New England’s practice squad, he ended up having a somewhat regular role for the team in 2020. Hall ultimately got into eight games (four starts) that season, finishing with 50 tackles.

The linebacker spent the 2021 campaign on the reserve/physically unable to perform list thanks to offseason ankle surgery. It’s uncertain if today’s failed physical had anything to do with that injury.

With Hall out of the picture, the Patriots are still rostering seven inside linebackers: Ja’Whaun Bentley, Raekwon McMillan, Cameron McGrone, Mack Wilson, Anfernee Jennings, Jahlani Tavai, and Harvey Langi.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/5/22

May 5th, 2022 at 7:19pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor NFL transactions:

Kansas City Chiefs

Waived: WR Gehrig Dieter, TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart, WR Gary Jennings, DT Lorenzo Neal, TE Josh Pederson, DE Jonathan Woodard

Las Vegas Raiders

Waived: RB Trey Ragas

Minnesota Vikings

Waived: DT Jordon Scott

Eagles Sign First-Round DT Jordan Davis

May 5th, 2022 at 6:49pm CST by Ben Levine

Another first-round pick has signed their rookie contract. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter), the Eagles have signed defensive tackle Jordan Davis to his rookie deal. It’s a four-year pact that includes $17MM in guaranteed money.

The Eagles traded up two selections in order to select the Georgia product with the No. 13 pick. Davis was a mainstay on the Bulldogs’ defense during his four seasons in college. Playing in a run-stopping role, the six-foot-six, 340 pounder totaled seven sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. Those numbers, along with eye-popping athletic testing at the combine, leave the door open to his development as a three-down player.

At the moment, Davis will be joining a depth chart that’s led by veteran Fletcher Cox. The 31-year-old was cut and re-signed by the Eagles earlier this offseason, but his one-year pact means he may not be sticking around Philadelphia long term.

Davis wasn’t the only Eagles rookie to ink his rookie contract today. According to Doug Kyed of ProFootballFocus.com (on Twitter), the Eagles also signed Kansas linebacker Kyron Johnson (round 6, No. 181) and SMU tight end Grant Calcaterra (round 6, No. 198).

Magic Johnson Joins Ownership Group Bidding To Buy Broncos

May 5th, 2022 at 5:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos have narrowed their prospective owner list to five, according to Mike Klis of 9News, who adds the first of those groups — the one fronted by New Jersey Devils owner and Philadelphia 76ers managing partner Josh Harris — met with Broncos executives and bank and transaction lawyers Thursday.

Harris’ group is believed to now have a big name attached. Magic Johnson has joined the group, according to Sportico (on Twitter). This is interesting considering Johnson partners with another of the Broncos’ ownership candidates — Todd Boehly — in a consortium that owns the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The NBA icon and former Lakers president of basketball operations has a 2.3% stake in the Dodgers, making a $50MM investment. The Broncos are expected to be sold for more than $4.5 billion, which will shatter an American sports record. The NFL has sought minority representation in the next Broncos ownership group, though Harris’ contingent is not believed to be the favorites. Walmart chairman Rob Walton is believed to be the frontrunner, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes his group and Boehly’s will visit soon (Twitter link). This process remains on track to be resolved before the season, RapSheet adds.

John Elway and Peyton Manning have been mentioned as interested parties, but Klis adds neither are expected to join a group until the bidding is settled. Elway remains interested in an advisory role with the eventual owner. The former Broncos GM currently serves as a consultant to successor George Paton.

A second round of bids has not yet taken place, per Klis. The highest bid must be accepted, with the winner then needing to be approved by three quarters of NFL owners. The last NFL sale ended with David Tepper‘s Panthers acquisition being approved by a 32-0 margin. Harris, 57, is well known in NFL circles, having bought the 5% stake in the Steelers that Tepper sold upon buying the Panthers.

Browns, Panthers Were Not Close On Baker Mayfield Trade

May 5th, 2022 at 5:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Panthers may circle back to Baker Mayfield, the disgruntled quarterback’s path out of Cleveland in a trade narrowed last week when the Browns and Panthers could not agree on terms. Carolina traded into Round 3 for Matt Corral, diminishing its interest in taking on part of Mayfield’s fifth-year option salary.

As previously noted, the terms of Mayfield’s $18.9MM 2022 option led to the Browns-Panthers trade talks fizzling. Carolina wanted Cleveland to pick up most of that fully guaranteed salary, according to ESPN.com’s Jake Trotter, who adds the trade talks that concluded Friday did not come especially close to producing a deal.

The Browns remain unwilling to cut Mayfield, though with the Seahawks curiously not showing much interest, they may have no choice. The Texans have also surfaced as a potential suitor. Both teams and others likely would take a hard look at the four-year starter as a free agent, but for now, the Browns are not prepared to cut Mayfield loose.

Mayfield attempting to play through a torn shoulder labrum undoubtedly hurt his standing, though Trotter adds the Browns were reluctant to engage in extension talks before the start of the 2021 campaign. Prior to Mayfield’s injury, reports emerged indicating he was fine with playing out his fourth season absent an extension. But Mayfield’s value cratered in 2021, with the former Heisman winner’s completion percentage plummeting from an NFL-best 82% before his September shoulder injury to 58% in the games following the setback. The latter portion comprised most of the season, leading the Browns to an 8-9 record and pushing this situation to its present state.

Mayfield underwent surgery in January but contacted Amari Cooper about a potential throwing session in March, per Trotter. However, the Browns’ entrance into the Deshaun Watson mix — and the “adult in the room” comment — proved to be enough for Mayfield to request a trade. The 27-year-old passer requested to be dealt nearly two months ago, but the standoff persists.