Dolphins Sign Five Draft Picks
The Dolphins have locked up the majority of their seven-player draft class, announcing deals with second-round linebacker Raekwon McMillan (Ohio State), third-round cornerback Cordrea Tankersley (Clemson), fifth-round offensive lineman Isaac Asiata (Utah), sixth-round defensive tackle Vincent Taylor (Oklahoma State) and seventh-round wide receiver Isaiah Ford (Virginia Tech).
The most significant signing of the group is clearly McMillan, who was a three-year standout at Ohio State. As the 54th overall pick, McMillan is in line for a four-year contract worth $4,697,532, including a $1,556,388 signing bonus, per Over the Cap. After starring as an inside linebacker as a member of the Buckeyes, with whom he eclipsed the 100-tackle mark in each of the two previous seasons, it’s unclear where McMillan will line up as an NFL rookie. The Dolphins already have a veteran middle man in free agent pickup Lawrence Timmons, so McMillan could join Kiko Alonso on the outside of a remade linebacker corps in 2017.
McMillan represents one of five defensive draft picks by Miami, whose ‘D’ finished last season a below-average 19th in DVOA. The team’s most notable rookie is Missouri defensive end Charles Harris, the 22nd overall selection. He and fifth-round defensive tackle Davon Godchaux are the only Dolphins draftees without contracts.
Shanahan: Reuben Foster Could Miss 2017
There was significant concern about linebacker Reuben Foster‘s right shoulder entering the draft, which surely played a part in the ex-Alabama star’s first-round fall. Once regarded as a likely top 10 pick, Foster ended up going 31st overall to the 49ers, who are so bullish on the All-America defender that they would have been willing to select him at No. 3 had former Stanford D-lineman Solomon Thomas not been on the board. Instead, after landing Thomas with their top pick, the Niners were able to secure Foster by trading up three spots for him in a deal with the NFC West rival Seahawks.
The 49ers’ doctors “felt good” about Foster’s shoulder after examining it, head coach Kyle Shanahan told KNBR in San Francisco (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle), but the club nonetheless realizes the 23-year-old isn’t a lock to play in 2017.
“The worst-case scenario is the shoulder doesn’t heal correctly and you’ve got to do it again,” Shanahan said of a potential second surgery for Foster. “When you have to do it again, you have to get another surgery and it would be tough to play this year, and you end up having him the next year.”
Foster’s shoulder “could give out on any hit,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported earlier this week, though Shanahan won’t regard the selection as a mistake if it does. Shanahan doesn’t believe Foster’s shoulder is a “long-term” concern, adding: “So the worst-case scenario, he wouldn’t end up being able to play for us right away. But I still don’t think that would have changed how I personally felt about taking a guy with the 31st pick with the caliber of player that we took.”
By moving back into the first round for Foster, the 49ers gave themselves a chance to keep him in the fold on his first contract for five years, as opposed to four had he gone in the second round. As such, a redshirt season wouldn’t be catastrophic from a team control standpoint (though it certainly wouldn’t be ideal). And if Foster does sit out 2017 but go on to reach his potential from 2018-21, the 49ers probably won’t regret dealing the 34th and 111th choices to trade up for him.
Patriots Add 19 UDFAs
Along with the previously reported signings of BYU linebacker Harvey Langi and Central Florida defensive back D.J. Killings, the Patriots announced 17 other undrafted free agent pickups Friday. Here they are:
- Josh Augusta, DT (Missouri)
- Adam Butler, DT (Vanderbilt)
- Austin Carr, WR (Northwestern)
- Cole Croston, OT (Iowa)
- LeShun Daniels, RB (Iowa)
- Brooks Ellis, LB (Arkansas)
- Cody Hollister, WR (Arkansas)
- Jacob Hollister, TE (Wyoming)
- Andrew Jelks, OT (Vanderbilt)
- David Jones, DB (Richmond)
- Jason King, G (Purdue)
- Kenny Moore, DB (Valdosta State)
- Max Rich, OT (Harvard)
- Dwayne Thomas, DB (LSU)
- Jason Thompson, DB (Utah)
- Damarius Travis, DB (Minnesota)
- Corey Vereen, DE (Tennessee)
Chiefs Claim Kelvin Taylor
The Chiefs have claimed running back Kelvin Taylor off waivers from the Seahawks, according to Adam Teicher of ESPN.com.
The son of Fred Taylor, the greatest running back in Jaguars history, Kelvin Taylor hit waivers Thursday when Seattle cut him. He spent part of last season on the Seahawks’ practice squad and a week on their active roster, but he didn’t see any game action. Taylor, an ex-Florida Gator, originally went to the 49ers in the sixth round of last year’s draft, but he didn’t advance beyond their practice squad before they cut him in November.
As was the case in both San Francisco and Seattle, Taylor will face an uphill battle in attempting to carve out a role in Kansas City. The Chiefs have no shortage of options at running back, including veterans Spencer Ware, Charcandrick West and C.J. Spiller and rookie third-rounder Kareem Hunt.
Dolphins Sign 14 UDFAs
The Dolphins announced the signings of 14 undrafted free agents Friday. Here’s the list:
- Chase Allen, LB (Southern Illinois)
- Matt Haack, P (Arizona State)
- Larry Hope, CB (Akron)
- Malcolm Lewis, WR (Miami)
- Cameron Malveaux, DE (Houston)
- Praise Martin-Oguike, DE (Temple)
- Torry McTyer, CB (UNLV)
- Drew Morgan, WR (Arkansas)
- Francis Owusu, WR (Stanford)
- Joby Saint Fleur, DE (Oklahoma State)
- De’Veon Smith, RB (Michigan)
- Eric Smith, OT (Virginia)
- Maurice Smith, S (Georgia)
- Damore’ea Stringfellow, WR (Mississippi)
Jay Cutler: Career Change Is “Permanent”
After news broke Friday that Jay Cutler was joining the NFL on FOX, there was skepticism on whether he was committed to leaving his playing career behind for good. But the longtime starting quarterback tried to put those doubts to rest later Friday, telling Waddle & Silvy of WMVP-AM in Chicago that his exit from the field is indeed “permanent” (via Kevin Patra of NFL.com). At the same time, the former Bronco and Bear acknowledged that he’ll miss playing when the season inches closer.
“There is zero doubt in my mind that there is going to be some regret,” Cutler said. “I have no doubt in my mind come the middle of August, September there is going to be that itch to play. There is going to be part of me that I know I can still do it. But that’s now how the cards played out, and that’s not where we are at. I just don’t feel comfortable with a situation in August or September of jumping back into it, even if that situation arises, which I don’t think it’s going to.”
In an ideal world for the 34-year-old Cutler, he would still be a starting quarterback for someone, but he didn’t encounter much interest in free agency after a less-than-stellar, injury-shortened 2016 campaign. Cutler appeared in just five games last season in his eighth and final year in Chicago, which went an even 51-51 in his starts. Cutler would not have considered ending his playing career had the Bears kept him, nor would he have pondered a broadcasting job, he told WMVP-AM.
“There’s no way in hell I’m doing this,” Cutler thought when FOX first approached him. “This is literally the last thing I want to do.”
Cutler came around on the idea, though, and is now set to join play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt and color commentator Charles Davis in a three-man booth next season. He’s the second big-name signal-caller to abruptly give up playing in favor of broadcasting this offseason, joining former Cowboy and-now CBS color announcer Tony Romo.
An Introduction To Pro Football Rumors
After the frenzy of free agency and the NFL Draft, Pro Football Rumors’ following across social media platforms has skyrocketed. Some readers might not be familiar with PFR, so we wanted to take a few minutes to tell you about who we are and what we do.
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Using news from only the game’s most trusted reporters, PFR keeps readers abreast of every rumor and event pertaining to roster movement. In addition to being the most accurate source out there for football news, we’re also the fastest. The instant a team considers a free agent or a trade is discussed, you’ll find a full, informative article here on PFR explaining what the transaction will mean and how it could impact all parties involved. Every day, there’s a writer on call from sunrise to midnight, so there’s nothing that gets by us.
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Raiders Sign 17 UDFAs
The Raiders have signed 17 undrafted free agents, according to a team announcement:
- Breon Borders, CB (Duke)
- Paul Boyette, DT (Texas)
- Chauncey Briggs, OT (SMU)
- Fadol Brown, DE (Mississippi)
- Pharaoh Brown, TE (Oregon)
- Anthony Cioffi, S (Rutgers)
- Keon Hatcher, WR (Arkansas)
- Chris Humes, CB (Arkansas State)
- Rickey Jefferson, S (LSU)
- Anthony Kukwa, LS (Lake Erie)
- Nicholas Morrow, LB (Greenville)
- Jordan Simmons, G (USC)
- Ahmad Thomas, S (Oklahoma)
- Jordan Wade, DT (Oklahoma)
- Issac Whitney, WR (USC)
- Xavier Woodson-Luster, LB (Arkansas State)
- Ishmael Zamora, WR (Baylor)
Cioffi, a product of Jonathan Dayton High School in Springfield, N.J., stayed close to home for college and worked his way up to a starting role in his senior year at Rutgers. Cioffi led all Scarlet Knights defensive backs last season in tackles (63) and interceptions (2). Prior to the draft, he reportedly ran a 4.37 second 40-yard-dash in training.
Zamora was suspended for three games last season after videos emerged of him beating his dog. He was not invited to this year’s draft combine and that was likely the results of his off-the-field behavior. He appeared in ten games last season for Baylor, tallying 63 catches for 809 yards and ten touchdowns.
Ravens Sign 15 UDFAs
The Ravens have signed the following undrafted free agents:
- Quincy Adeboyejo, WR (Mississippi)
- Kenny Allen, P/K (Michigan)
- C.J. Board, WR (Tennessee-Chattanooga)
- Bam Bradley, ILB (Pittsburgh)
- Omarius Bryant, DE (Western Kentucky)
- Carlos Davis, CB (Mississippi)
- Daniel Henry, S (New Mexico)
- Brandon Kublanow, C (Georgia)
- Taquan Mizzell, RB (Virginia)
- Ricky Ortiz, FB (Oregon State)
- Tim Patrick, WR (Utah)
- Patrick Ricard, DE (Maine)
- Maurquice Shakir, OG (Middle Tennessee St.)
- Zach Terrell, QB (Western Michigan)
- Tim White, WR Arizona State
After neglecting to draft a wide receiver last week, the Ravens have added four WRs in White, Patrick, Adeboyejo, and Board. The Ravens currently project to have Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman as their top two WRs with Chris Moore, Michael Campanaro, Vince Mayle, Chris Matthews, and Keenan Reynolds pushing for supporting roles.
On Friday, the Ravens officially signed first-round cornerback Marlon Humphrey and four other draft picks.
Panthers Sign Entire Draft Class
The Panthers have signed their entire 2017 draft class. One day after inking first-round selection Christian McCaffrey, all seven Carolina draft picks are now officially in the fold:
- 1-8: Christian McCaffrey, RB (Stanford)
- 2-40: Curtis Samuel, RB (Ohio State)
- 2-64: Taylor Moton, OL (Western Michigan)
- 3-77: Daeshon Hall, DL (Texas A&M)
- 5-152: Corn Elder, CB (Miami)
- 6-192: Alex Armah, FB (West Georgia)
- 7-233: Harrison Butker, K (Georgia Tech)
Elder and Butker were the last to agree, but they put pen to paper after Friday morning’s rookie camp session. As shown in PFR’s team-by-team draft breakdown, the Panthers are the first team to sign their entire draft class.
According to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, Samuel’s game is reminiscent of Oregon product Josh Huff. Opinions are split on how this well-rounded receiver’s game will translate as a pro.
“It’s kind of like with Jalin Marshall last year,” a regional scout told Zierlein. “How do you use him? He’s not a running back and his routes and hands really aren’t that good. Marshall went undrafted. Samuel is a better athlete but they are about the same size and give you the same concerns with how to use them.”
According to Albert Breer of The MMQB (Twitter link), there is offset language in McCaffrey’s deal.