HEADLINES

Transactions News & Rumors

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/15/24

May 15th, 2024 at 8:16pm CST by Ely Allen

Wednesday’s minor NFL moves:

Atlanta Falcons:

Denver Broncos

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Signed: Ty Summers
  • Waived with injury designation: WR Wayne Ruby

Minnesota Vikings

Lynch sat on the free agent market for quite some time, but his patience pays off. He’ll return to Minnesota for his fourth season with the team. He’s started three games for the Vikings in 28 game appearances over the last two years.

Allen, a part of Denver’s 13-man undrafted free agent class, sees a short tenure with the Broncos come to an end. Once again, he’ll be free to sign with anyone else in the NFL who may have interest.

Commanders To Add WR Damiere Byrd

May 15th, 2024 at 4:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

A seventh team will sign off on a Damiere Byrd contract. The veteran wide receiver, who spent 2023 with three teams, will join the Commanders, per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.

Byrd trekked to Washington on Wednesday for a workout, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets, noting the well-traveled vet joined Martavis Bryant on this audition. Bryant remains unsigned, while it will be Byrd receiving an opportunity in Washington.

While a number of Dan Quinn-driven reunions have commenced in Washington this offseason, Byrd will return to a Kliff Kingsbury-run offense. Byrd, 31, was in Arizona for Kingsbury’s Cardinals HC debut back in 2019. While Byrd’s 2023 journey makes it far from certain he will be on the Commanders’ 53-man roster this season, he will bring some experience in the system Kingsbury is implementing.

Byrd’s original team, the Panthers, reacquired him during the ’23 offseason but released him from IR after an August injury settlement. The Falcons, who employed Byrd in 2022, brought him back after his summer hamstring injury healed. By mid-January, Byrd was in Houston as an emergency option for a Texans team down multiple wide receivers. Altogether, however, Byrd played in just one game last season. He will attempt to rebound from a lost year.

A diminutive target at 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, Byrd has been with the Panthers, Cardinals, Patriots, Bears, Falcons, Texans and Commanders. Moved from a special teams presence into a more regular receiving role under Kingsbury in 2019, the former Panthers UDFA’s best season came during Cam Newton‘s Patriots starter year. Byrd caught 47 passes for 606 yards in 2020; he has operated as more of a role player since. Byrd did average 20.6 yards per catch with the Falcons in 2022, scoring two touchdowns in a 268-yard season.

Washington has added two smaller wideouts in free agency, with Byrd joining ex-Falcons teammate Olamide Zaccheaus on Quinn’s team. They join the re-signed Jamison Crowder, who goes 5-9, as potential auxiliary options under Kingsbury. The Commanders closed this year’s third round by drafting Rice’s Luke McCaffrey. Holdovers Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson lead this Commanders position group

Broncos To Sign P Trenton Gill

May 15th, 2024 at 1:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

While no one claimed Trenton Gill‘s rookie contract following his Bears exit, the two-year Chicago punter will have another chance elsewhere. The Broncos are signing Gill, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.

Waived shortly after the Bears used a fourth-round pick on Iowa punter Tory Taylor, Gill will head to Denver after two years as Chicago’s punter. It appears he will compete with incumbent Riley Dixon for the Broncos’ punting gig.

The Bears placing fourth-round-level importance on upgrading at punter provided a clear sign Gill would not have a chance to keep his job in Chicago; the cut came days after the draft choice occurred. Gill, 25, served as the Bears’ punter over the past two seasons; he arrived in Illinois as a seventh-round pick out of NC State.

Dixon initially arrived in Denver as a seventh-rounder back in 2016, but the team traded him to the Giants to accommodate a Marquette King signing. The latter move did not pan out in Denver, with King lasting only four games with the 2018 team. The Broncos have cycled through punters in the years since, with Dixon coming back — via a two-year, $3.5MM deal — during Sean Payton‘s first offseason with the team. No guaranteed money remains on Dixon’s deal.

Gill averaged 46.1 yards per punt last season. Despite punting in Denver’s thin air, Dixon averaged 46.3 per boot. Gill averaged 46 even per punt in 2022, while Dixon fared better with the Rams (career-high 48.4). Both Dixon and Gill finished outside the top 20 in this category last season. Dixon, 30, finished last season having placed 34.2% of his punts inside the 20; Gill closed his second Bears slate at 26.9%.

Should Gill beat out Dixon, the Broncos will have used four punters in the past four seasons. The team deployed four between its 2018 Dixon trade and his 2023 return.

Bills Sign WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

May 14th, 2024 at 9:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

Marquez Valdes-Scantling‘s Bills visit has proven to be a fruitful one. The veteran wideout has a Buffalo agreement in place, as first reported by Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The team has since announced the move.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds this one-year pact includes a $1.125MM signing bonus. The deal carries a maximum value of $4.5MM, and it eliminates another receiver from the post-draft free agent market. Valdes-Scantling will aim to provide Buffalo with a vertical threat in the team’s vastly different 2024 wideout setup.

The Bills lost Gabe Davis in free agency when he inked a three-year, $39MM deal with the Jaguars. Davis proved himself to be an effective field-stretcher during his four years in Buffalo, averaging 16.7 yards per reception. It came as little surprise when he departed, though, as the team turned its attention elsewhere in the pass-catching corps.

At the time of Davis’ departure, Stefon Diggs was still in place as the Bills’ top receiver. He was dealt to the Texans in April, however, creating a notable vacancy in terms of targets in the Buffalo passing attack. Curtis Samuel was added in free agency, and (after trading down twice) the team used its top draft pick on Keon Coleman. Quarterback Josh Allen was on board with selecting the Florida State product, and it will be interesting to see how their chemistry develops in 2024 and beyond.

Valdes-Scantling spent the past two seasons in Kansas City, helping the team win back-to-back Super Bowls. The 29-year-old only saw his catch percentage (51.2%) improve slightly compared to his tenure in Green Bay, and issues related to drops will no doubt be a talking point if they continue this season as he joins the Bills. Valdes-Scantling also met with the Chargers before his Buffalo summit, but he has elected to join Allen and Co. as they look to improve on last year’s run to the divisional round.

Buffalo’s switch to Joe Brady as offensive coordinator midway through the 2023 campaign saw the team lean more heavily on the running game. That will likely continue this season, with tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox each having a notable role. The receiver room will look much different, however, and Valdes-Scantling will look to carve out a starting spot ahead of free agency next offseason.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/14/24

May 14th, 2024 at 9:14pm CST by Ben Levine

Teams continue to sign their draft picks to rookie contracts. We’ve collected today’s miscellaneous signings below:

Chicago Bears

  • OT Kiran Amegadjie (third round, Yale)

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Indianapolis Colts

Minnesota Vikings

  • OT Walter Rouse (sixth round, Oklahoma)

New York Giants

  • CB Dru Phillips (third round, Kentucky)

Seattle Seahawks

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/14/24

May 14th, 2024 at 9:03pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Cleveland Browns

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Commanders

Rams Sign Six Draft Picks

May 14th, 2024 at 7:47pm CST by Ben Levine

After previously completing their rookie agreement with second-round defensive tackle Braden Fiske, the Rams have signed six more of their draft picks. The team announced that they’ve signed the following players to rookie contracts:

  • Round 3, No. 83: Blake Corum (RB, Michigan)
  • Round 6, No. 196: Tyler Davis (DT, Clemson)
  • Round 6, No. 209: Joshua Karty (K, Stanford)
  • Round 6, No. 213: Jordan Whittington (WR, Texas)
  • Round 6, No. 217: Beaux Limmer (C, Arkansas)
  • Round 7, No. 254: KT Leveston (G, Kansas State)

Following a breakout 2021 campaign, Corum put together one of the best two-year stretches in Michigan football history. Between 2022 and 2023, the running back compiled 2,905 yards from scrimmage and 47 touchdowns, earning him a pair of All-American nods and Heisman Trophy consideration during his junior campaign. He finished his college career with a standout performance in the national championship, earning the game’s offensive MVP award after compiling 134 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

He’ll land in a dynamic offensive in Los Angeles. Kyren Williams is coming off a breakout campaign, but the starter still missed five games last season. That allowed the likes of Royce Freeman, Darrell Henderson, and Ronnie Rivers to each top 100 snaps; Corum could soak up all of those backup reps in 2024.

With today’s moves, the team now has three draft picks left to sign: first-round edge defender Jared Verse, third-round safety Kamren Kinchens, and fifth-round wide receiver Brennan Jackson.

Packers Sign Six Draft Picks

May 14th, 2024 at 6:48pm CST by Ben Levine

The Packers are one step closer to completing their draft pick signings. The team announced the signing of six rookies today, with the group including:

  • Round 3, No. 88: MarShawn Lloyd (RB, USC)
  • Round 3, No. 91 (from Bills): Ty’Ron Hopper (LB, Missouri)
  • Round 4, No. 111 (from Jets): Evan Williams (S, Oregon)
  • Round 5, No. 163 (from Bills): Jacob Monk (C, Duke)
  • Round 5, No. 169: Kitan Oladapo (S, Oregon State)
  • Round 6, No. 202: Travis Glover (T, Georgia State)

Lloyd is the biggest name on the list following his breakout lone season at USC. The running back finished the season with 1,052 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns, leading to him being the fourth RB off the board. In Green Bay, the rookie will likely compete with A.J. Dillon for any backup reps behind new addition Josh Jacobs.

Hopper is another notable addition to the squad following two standout seasons at Missouri. Between 2022 and 2023, the linebacker compiled 132 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 23 games, performances that put him firmly on the NFL radar. Considering his coverage skills in college, he’ll likely be called on as a weakside LB behind Quay Walker.

The Packerspreviously signed seventh-round picks Michael Pratt and Kalen King. Following today’s moves, the Packers have three unsigned draft picks: first-round offensive tackle Jordan Morgan, second-round linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, and second-round safety Javon Bullard.

Cardinals Sign Round 2 CB Max Melton

May 14th, 2024 at 3:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

The current CBA has largely removed holdout-driven drama from the NFL offseason, but the wiggle room regarding second-round picks does add some intrigue to the rookie signing process. The Cardinals’ Tuesday signing will help influence this year’s guarantee structures.

Arizona agreed to terms with its second-round pick — Rutgers cornerback Max Melton — Tuesday, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who adds the deal includes three fully guaranteed years and part of the DB’s 2027 salary being locked in at signing. The Cardinals are guaranteeing $50K of the No. 43 overall pick’s 2027 salary.

This follows the Rams’ Braden Fiske deal, which Wilson reported guarantees 15% of the Florida State defensive lineman’s 2027 base salary. Fiske went No. 39. The Rams and Cardinals’ deals show more progress being made by second-rounders. Last year’s class did not see its No. 39 overall pick (Jonathan Mingo) secure any Year 4 guarantees. The Cards giving Melton three fully guaranteed years and some 2027 guarantees will mandate this year’s Nos. 40-42 picks (cornerbacks Cooper DeJean, Kool-Aid McKinstry and Kamari Lassiter) receive some contract-year security.

Last year’s guarantee arc did not require the Jets to guarantee all of No. 43 overall pick Joe Tippmann‘s Year 3 salary, and No. 42 overall choice Luke Musgrave also did not receive three full years guaranteed. The Cardinals’ Melton agreement will continue to move the baseline for second-round guarantees, and the former Big Ten corner will get to work in attempting to carve out a significant role as a rookie in Arizona.

Checking in 50th on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, Melton is viewed as a player who could be a fit outside or in the slot. He intercepted eight passes over the past three seasons at Rutgers, returning one for a score. Melton also notched 10 passes defensed as a junior in 2022. The 5-foot-11 cover man added to his draft profile by running a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the Combine.

Arizona has been in need at corner for years, with Byron Murphy‘s 2023 exit for Minnesota amplifying the issue. The team’s group at the position will look different in 2024, as three CBs — Melton, third-rounder Elijah Jones and seventh-rounder Jaden Davis — join free agency addition Sean Murphy-Bunting as new faces here. The Cardinals did improve in pass defense last season, ranking 13th in Jonathan Gannon‘s debut; they will aim to make more gains with their new pieces this year.

The Cardinals also agreed to terms with third-rounder Isaiah Adams, a guard out of Illinois. Adams was part of a four-third-rounder haul for Arizona this year.

49ers, T Chris Hubbard Agree To Deal

May 14th, 2024 at 10:32am CST by Adam La Rose

The 49ers are set to add experienced depth up front. San Francisco has a deal in place with offensive tackle Chris Hubbard, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

This will be a one-year pact worth $1.375MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds. Hubbard started all nine of his games during his single season in Tennessee, adding to his lengthy NFL resume. The 33-year-old has logged 94 appearances and 58 starts during his time with the Steelers, Browns and Titans.

Hubbard suffered a biceps injury in November and it caused him to miss the remainder of the 2023 season. To no surprise, the ailment hindered his market and left him waiting until well after the draft to find a new deal. The former UDFA earned a PFF grade of 69, and his absence was missed on a Titans team which struggled up front last season.

San Francisco is set on the blindside with Trent Williams on the books. The team saw right tackle starter Mike McGlinchey depart on a big-ticket deal with the Broncos in free agency last offseason, creating a notable vacancy on that side of the line. The 49ers relied on Colton McKivitz to replace McGlinchey, and he started all 20 regular and postseason games in 2023.

McKivitz did enough in his first season as a starter to earn a one-year extension, keeping him in place through 2025. Hubbard will therefore serve in a swing tackle capacity upon arrival in the Bay Area. The latter has sporadically seen time on the blindside during his career, but his most common position has been at the right tackle spot.

The defending NFC champions entered the draft with O-line as a potential target area. The team selected Dominick Puni in the third round, and he has college experience at both tackle and guard. Today’s Hubbard news suggests the Kansas product will be used primarily on the interior as a rookie, something corroborated by Matt Barrows and David Lombardi of The Athletic (subscription required). At a minimum, both Hubbard and Puni will provide the 49ers with depth at multiple spots up front.

Load More Posts