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NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/10/24

May 10th, 2024 at 9:13pm CST by Ely Allen

Yesterday’s rush of rookie signings continued today. Here are Friday’s draft pick signings:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

  • K Will Reichard (sixth round, Alabama)
  • C Michael Jurgens (seventh round, Wake Forest)
  • DT Levi Drake Rodriguez (seventh round, Texas A&M-Commerce)

New England Patriots

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • G Mason McCormick (fourth round, South Dakota State)
  • DT Logan Lee (sixth round, Iowa)

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

Rams Sign Second-Round DT Braden Fiske

May 10th, 2024 at 7:45pm CST by Ely Allen

The Rams have begun the process of signing their 2024 NFL Draft picks. They open their draft signings by inking second-round defensive tackle out of Florida State Braden Fiske. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Fiske enters the NFL on a four-year, $9.41MM deal that sees a $3.66MM signing bonus and 15 percent of his Year 4 salary included in the total fully guaranteed amount of $7.64MM.

Fiske was part of an undefeated (in the regular season) Florida State squad built off the transfer portal. Fiske was one of those contributors out of the portal for the Seminoles after five years at Western Michigan. The Michigan-native became a full-time starter in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season and set career highs with the Broncos two years later in total tackles (58), tackles for loss (12.0), sacks (6.0), forced fumbles (2), and pass deflections (3). In one season as a full-time starter in Tallahassee, Fiske did more of the same, tallying nine tackles for loss and six sacks en route to a second-team All-ACC selection.

Fiske’s game should translate well at the NFL level. He brings ideal size to the position and wins often with his initial quickness. Mainly relying on club moves and bull rushes, he’ll need to add a few more moves to his pass-rush arsenal, but his consistency and drive will likely help him earn a big role as a rookie.

In Los Angeles, Fiske joins a defensive front that looks to replace future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald and Jonah Williams. The team returns second-year nose tackle Kobie Turner, who started four games as a rookie, and Bobby Brown III, who started 13 games but played less than half as many defensive snaps as Turner. Fiske stands to likely slot in as a starter, if not simply a large contributor, as a rookie, similar to Turner last year. His ability to play all over the line should allow Fiske several opportunities to earn his way onto the field.

Including Fiske’s fellow Florida State transfer contributor Jared Verse, the team’s first-round selection, the Rams have nine other draft picks to sign:

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/10/24

May 10th, 2024 at 6:54pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor transactions as we head into the weekend:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

New York Giants

Cohen hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since his time in Chicago, where he earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as a punt returner, ended in 2020. The North Carolina A&T product had been part of an effective 1-2 punch with Jordan Howard but saw his role diminish with the arrival of David Montgomery in 2019. Since then, injuries have limited the explosive rusher’s ability to make an impact.

Broncos, QB Bo Nix Agree To Terms

May 10th, 2024 at 5:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

The last of this year’s six quarterbacks chosen in Round 1 will be the first to sign his rookie deal, with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter indicating Bo Nix put pen to paper with the Broncos on Friday.

As the Broncos have tried and failed repeatedly to replace Peyton Manning, Nix is the second Round 1 QB the team has turned to since the legendary passer’s retirement. The team whiffed badly on 2016 first-rounder Paxton Lynch. Chosen 14 spots earlier (12th overall), Nix will be counted on to help the franchise move on from the Russell Wilson mistake admission.

Setting a Division I-FBS QB record for 61 starts (at Auburn and Oregon), Nix dazzled at the Pac-12 program. The Broncos made an effort to separate the bevy of screen and short-yardage throws Nix made in the Ducks’ system — one that produced a 45-3 TD-INT ratio last season — and the team came away with an assessment Nix remained one of the draft’s most accurate passers. On the whole, Nix completed an astonishing 77.4% of his passes last season.

The Broncos have Jarrett Stidham under contract, and the team finalized a Zach Wilson trade days before the draft. The Sean Payton–George Paton combo had zeroed in on Nix by the time the Wilson trade was final, and it appears likely the five-year college starter will be under center early this season — if not by Week 1. The Broncos waived Ben DiNucci earlier this week. Stidham’s two-year, $10MM deal calls for a $4.49MM 2024 base salary; just $1MM of that is guaranteed.

Payton admitted he played a part in a smokescreen effort centered around the Broncos as a threat to move up the board. While connections to J.J. McCarthy were present — leading to the Vikings to trade up two spots for the Michigan passer — the Broncos were enamored with Nix. They are believed to have rated the Oregon-developed prospect as this draft’s third-best QB. Many disagree with that assessment, but Payton will get to work training the 6-foot-2 passer in his system.

Nix topped out at 16 TD passes in a season in three years at Auburn; like Michael Penix Jr., his numbers took a leap following a 2022 transfer. Nix threw 29 TD passes and seven picks at Oregon in 2022, adding a career-high 510 rushing yards and 14 TDs. It remains to be seen how much Nix’s scrambling ability will translate to the NFL, with his arm strength drawing some questions. The Broncos will bank on their handpicked QB’s accuracy and quick release, and the team has his former Ducks center — 2023 seventh-round pick Alex Forsyth — and top wide receiver (2024 fourth-rounder Troy Franklin) in place as the NFL development process begins.

Since Manning’s March 2016 retirement, the Broncos have used 13 starting QBs. The Lynch pick busting led the team to try free agency (Case Keenum), trades (Wilson, Joe Flacco, Teddy Bridgewater) and the second round (Drew Lock). Nix is the earliest Broncos QB draftee since Jay Cutler in 2006; the Payton regime will largely be shaped by how the latest QB1 candidate performs.

Titans Sign Round 1 T JC Latham

May 10th, 2024 at 5:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

Closely linked to being Joe Alt‘s floor at No. 7, the Titans ended up being the second team to draft a tackle from this impressive class. After the Chargers chose Alt at No. 5, the Titans came away with JC Latham.

The Alabama product, who received some late buzz to the point he was in viewed as a possible candidate to go to the Chargers, is now under contract with Tennessee. The Titans completed the signing process with Latham, who is under contract through 2027 (feat. a fifth-year option). The deal is fully guaranteed.

Titans-Latham buzz developed just before the draft, and this marks the second straight year the Titans chose an offensive lineman in the first round. Latham will join Peter Skoronski on an O-line GM Ran Carthon has gone about remaking. Moving on from longtime starters Taylor Lewan, Ben Jones and Nate Davis in his first offseason as GM, Carthon has since added an anchor piece. Latham is expected to line up at left tackle.

Multiple teams viewed Latham as a player who could become an All-Pro right tackle, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Caplan notes. One of a few premier college RTs who wound up first-round picks, Latham started the past two seasons for the Crimson Tide at that spot. The strong run blocker earned second-team All-America acclaim last season, becoming one of the top players in this year’s draft class.

The Titans cleared a path for Latham at LT, cutting disappointing 2023 free agent signing Andre Dillard. The team briefly tried RT starter Nicholas Petit-Frere on the blind side, but an injury — following his reinstatement from a gambling suspension — nixed that plan. Jaelyn Duncan spent much of the season’s second half at left tackle.

This year’s first round included nine tackles — if Duke tackle-turned-Buccaneers center Graham Barton is included; the Titans made Latham the second one chosen. Had Alt been available, Caplan adds the Notre Dame All-American likely would have been the choice. But it will be Latham on track to join Skoronski and Co. along the Titans’ offensive front. The young blockers will step into an intriguing situation, with highly regarded O-line coach Bill Callahan following son Brian to Nashville.

Browns Bring In Eight UDFAs

May 10th, 2024 at 5:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the eight priority free agents heading to Cleveland as part of the Browns’ post-draft haul:

  • Ahmarean Brown, WR (South Carolina)
  • Javion Cohen, G (Miami)
  • Christopher Edmonds, S (Arizona State)
  • Dyshawn Gales, CB (South Dakota State)
  • Winston Reid, LB (Weber State)
  • Aidan Robbins, RB (BYU)
  • Lorenzo Thompson, T (Rhode Island)
  • Treyton Welch, TE (Wyoming)

After playing alongside first-round pick Xavier Legette with the Gamecocks, Brown will collect some notable (in the UDFA realm, that is) guarantees to join the Browns. Cleveland is giving Brown $170K guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Standing 5-foot-8 and weighing just 170 pounds, Brown provided a contrast to the 227-pound Legette. Brown tallied 26 receptions for 265 yards and two TDs in 2023. As a freshman at Georgia Tech, the diminutive target totaled a career-high 396 yards and seven TD grabs.

Cohen profiles as an interesting add. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. slotted the interior blocker as the 159th-ranked player in this year’s class. An Alabama transfer, Cohen started 36 games in college. This included 10 for the Crimson Tide in 2022, when Cohen received second-team All-SEC acclaim. The former four-star recruit was a full-time guard starter for the 2021 Alabama edition as well.

The Browns hosted Robbins on a “30” visit in April. They reached a pay-cut agreement with Nick Chubb, and while Nyheim Hines joined the team in free agency, the Browns did not draft a back. Robbins played for three Division I-FBS teams, transferring from Louisville to UNLV to BYU. Robbins’ most notable season came in 2022 — his lone Runnin’ Rebels year — when he rushed for 1,009 yards and nine touchdowns. He totaled 485 on the ground in eight games at BYU.

Cleveland dipped into the lower levels of the sport in its UDFA haul, with one of its bigger-school additions (Edmonds) having transferred from the Division I-FCS tier as well. Reid spent seven years at Weber State, while Gales intercepted four passes en route to all-conference honors while at South Dakota State in 2022. Thompson twice earned all-conference acclaim at Rhode Island, starting 37 straight games along the Rams’ O-line. Edmonds transferred from Samford, having been a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award (given to Division I-FCS’s top defender) in 2021. Edmonds picked off three passes with the Sun Devils last year.

Broncos Sign 13 UDFAs

May 10th, 2024 at 4:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

With rookie minicamps underway, the final batch of UDFA hauls are coming into focus. Here is the Broncos’ 13-man group:

The Broncos were believed to be targeting tight ends this offseason, but the team did not draft any or add an outside veteran free agent. This stands to place importance once again on 2022 third-rounder Greg Dulcich shaking off his chronic hamstring trouble. Neither of the tight ends in this UDFA class profile as players who would help on the receiving front immediately. A blocking tight end, Leonard did not eclipse 175 receiving yards in any of his five Yellowjackets seasons. Yassmin came to Utah after being noticed at a rugby camp; the ex-Dalton Kincaid Utes teammate showed some promise in 2022, catching 13 passes for 301 yards. He trudged through an injury-shortened 2023 season.

Constantinou will challenge veteran Riley Dixon for the Broncos’ punting job; Denver reacquired Dixon last year, giving him a $3.5MM deal. No guarantees remain on the eight-year veteran’s contract. An Australia native, Constantinou was a first-team All-SEC honoree in 2021 and second-team punter in 2022.

Watson received a $250K salary guarantee and a $25K bonus, 9News’ Mike Klis notes. An Old Dominion transfer, Watson impressed as an outlet option in his one season at Memphis. He totaled 480 receiving yards to go with 1,152 on the ground in 2023. He will join a suddenly crowded Denver backfield, which houses Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Jaleel McLaughlin and fifth-round pick Audric Estime. Brown and Crum each received $250K in total guarantees, according to Klis, coming in just south of Watson’s mark. Brown transferred from Northern Iowa to Nebraska, while Crum made 49 starts (36 at right tackle, 13 at left tackle) for Wyoming. Crum’s 2023 season at LT earned him first-team All-Mountain West Conference acclaim.

Not listed here, Nebraska cornerback Quinton Newsome is set to sign for $100K in total guarantees, Klis adds. The Broncos will need to cut one more player to make room on their 90-man roster, according to the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. Newsome was a three-year Cornhuskers starter who saw his draft stock hurt by a December shoulder surgery.

Broncos Release WR Phillip Dorsett, DL Rashard Lawrence

May 10th, 2024 at 3:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos’ UDFA contingent became official Friday, and the 13-man haul left the team the task of moving two players off its roster to reach the 90-man offseason limit. The team has complied, cutting two experienced veterans.

Denver informed wide receiver Phillip Dorsett and defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence of their respective releases, according to the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel and 9News’ Mike Klis.

Dorsett joined the Broncos on a practice squad deal just after teams finalized their initial 53-man rosters last August. The former first-round pick, who failed to make the Raiders’ 53-man roster in training camp, played in two games and caught one pass in 2023. The Broncos were Dorsett’s seventh NFL team. The nine-year veteran turned 31 earlier this offseason.

Dorsett’s best NFL showings came in Indianapolis and New England. The 2015 first-rounder was memorably included in a summer 2017 trade that sent Jacoby Brissett to the Patriots; that deal came after Dorsett totaled a career-high 528 receiving yards. He has not come within 100 yards of that total since. With Houston in 2022, the Miami alum caught 20 passes for 257 yards.

Lawrence, 25, has been with five teams since August 2023. The former Cardinals fourth-round pick, who started 13 games with his original team from 2020-22, did not make Arizona’s first Jonathan Gannon-run roster last year and caught on with the Dolphins’ practice squad. He then bounced to the Panthers and Texans’ taxi squads. The Broncos gave Lawrence and Dorsett reserve/futures contracts in January.

Bears Name Caleb Williams Starting QB

May 10th, 2024 at 3:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Given the makeup of the Bears’ quarterback depth chart, Caleb Williams beginning his career on the sideline never appeared a realistic possibility. Matt Eberflus dispensed with any mystery on this front Friday.

Eberflus confirmed the No. 1 overall pick is the Bears’ starting quarterback. Seeing as the Bears traded three-year starter Justin Fields for an underwhelming return and have not added a veteran who would make sense as even a short bridge to Williams, this was the widely expected plan in Chicago.

Entering mid-May, Chicago’s QB room consists of Williams, 2023 UDFA Tyson Bagent, Brett Rypien and 2024 UDFA Austin Reed. Bailey Zappe‘s successor at Western Kentucky, Reed adds to the non-Power 5 theme behind Williams. Bagent hails from Division II Shepherd, Rypien from Boise State.

Rypien carries by far the most experience in this group, having come into the league in 2019. But he spent time with three teams (the Rams, Seahawks and Jets) last season. Rypien’s start in place of Matthew Stafford against the Packers went poorly enough the Rams cut him soon after and reached an agreement to end Carson Wentz‘s lengthy free agency stay. Rypien, 27, is tied to a one-year, $1.13MM deal with no guarantees. Bagent did go 2-2 as a starter in place of Fields last season but finished his midseason run with three touchdown passes, six interceptions and a 6.0 yards-per-attempt number.

The other five teams to draft first-round QBs have potential starters via veteran pieces added this offseason. Marcus Mariota looms as Commanders insurance against Jayden Daniels needing a bit of time to develop, while Jacoby Brissett looks to have a better chance to be the Patriots’ bridge to Drake Maye. Kirk Cousins will, barring a snag in his rehab from Achilles surgery, be the Falcons’ starter over Michael Penix Jr. this season. Sam Darnold should have a good shot to hold off J.J. McCarthy to open the season. Bo Nix making a Division I-FBS QB-record 61 starts and being 24 points to the No. 12 overall pick being an early-season starter in Denver, but the Broncos have both Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson as possible placeholders.

Williams started each of his three college seasons, unseating Spencer Rattler at Oklahoma in 2021 and following Lincoln Riley to USC. Williams’ 2022 Heisman season placed him atop this year’s prospect lists — to the point the pre-draft rumors centered around the action that would take place after the Bears chose the Trojans standout. Although the Bears used first-round picks on QBs three times this century (Rex Grossman, Mitchell Trubisky, Fields) and traded two first-rounders (and more) for Jay Cutler, Williams’ debut will be easily the most anticipated start by a Bears passer in decades (if not ever).

Cardinals To Sign WR Zay Jones

May 10th, 2024 at 2:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

A four-visit week did well to show Zay Jones commanded extensive interest following his Jaguars release. The veteran wide receiver will end up in Arizona, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reporting the Cardinals have a deal in place.

Jones also met with the Titans, Cowboys and Chiefs this week, setting up an interesting mid-offseason derby for a player who worked as a two-season starter in Jacksonville. Jones will now team with Marvin Harrison Jr. in Arizona. Jones’ deal will be worth up to $4.25MM, Rapoport adds.

The Cardinals received the second visit on a Jones tour that effectively showcased both his value and the state of the WR free agent market. The Titans appeared to take themselves out of the running early, reaching a deal with Tyler Boyd. Of the remaining three teams, the Cardinals appeared to feature the biggest need. Although Harrison is set to anchor Arizona’s receiving corps in Kyler Murray‘s sixth season, Jones will bring considerable experience to an equation that features questions behind the No. 4 overall pick.

A few veteran wide receivers have departed Arizona in recent years. A.J. Green retired after the 2022 season; soon after, the Cardinals released DeAndre Hopkins. This offseason, the Cards let Marquise Brown walk (to the Chiefs) in free agency and traded slot target Rondale Moore to the Falcons. The Brown and Moore exits left the likes of Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch as the top Cards holdover receivers. The past few weeks have changed that outlook.

The Jaguars released Jones shortly after their WR plan came to fruition during the draft’s first night. Nineteen picks after Harrison became this year’s first wideout drafted, Brian Thomas Jr. was the fourth. The LSU product being ticketed for Jacksonville led to the team removing Jones’ $8MM-per-year deal from its payroll. Jones, 29, will soon begin work for a fourth NFL team. The Bills drafted Jones in the 2017 second round but traded him to the Raiders during the 2019 season. The Jags signed both Jones and Christian Kirk during the 2022 offseason.

Jones’ Jags tenure featured a good start and an underwhelming second chapter. The 6-foot- 2 target proved some skeptics wrong by amassing a career-high 823 receiving yards to go with five touchdowns in 2022, helping the Jags to the playoffs. He became Trevor Lawrence‘s leading target in the postseason, totaling 13 receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown. This included a 39-yard score in the Jaguars’ 27-point comeback win over the Chargers and 83 yards in a narrow divisional-round loss to the Chiefs. Last season, however, Jones battled PCL and femur injuries, missing eight games and totaling 321 yards.

Working as an outside receiver in Jacksonville’s offense, Jones did boost Calvin Ridley, whose three 100-yard receiving efforts came with the 200-pound starter on the field. The East Carolina alum’s down 2023 also included a misdemeanor domestic battery charge in November. That will put Jones at risk of a suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The Cardinals clearly feel comfortable with Jones’ status to complete this signing.

Rebuffing trade interest for the No. 4 slot, the Cardinals were intent on upgrading Murray’s receiving corps. They will see if Jones can become a reliable supporting-caster to start Harrison’s career.

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