Vikings Sign P Zach Von Rosenberg
We don’t usually write full articles for undrafted free agent signings, but this one is too good not to pass along. Today, the Vikings agreed to terms with punter Zach Von Rosenberg (via Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com). What makes this signing so unique? Von Rosenberg is a 30-year-old former minor league pitcher.
The veteran/rookie punter had spent the past four seasons punting for LSU, averaging 44 yards per punt on 193 attempts. That included a 2020 campaign where he got plenty of opportunities to put his play on tape. Despite appearing in only nine games, Von Rosenberg collected 59 punts, the second-highest total in all of college football.
Prior to his collegiate football career, Von Rosenberg was a prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. The pitcher spent five years with the organization (2009-14), going 15-25 in a career that never saw him never elevating above Single A baseball.
Von Rosenberg will now have an opportunity to put together a Disney-movie-worthy career. As Tomasson writes, the rookie will have a legitimate chance to unseat starter Britton Colquitt, who reworked his contract this offseason to avoid being cut. The team also invited undrafted free agent Oscar Bradburn to rookie minicamp, but a source tells Tomasson that the Virginia Tech product might not attend.
Lions Sign 13 UDFAs
Brad Holmes just completed his first draft as Lions GM, and the executive has now completed his first crop of undrafted free agent signings. The Lions agreed to terms with 13 UDFAs today, per the team website:
- Jonathan Adams, WR, Arkansas State
- D’Angelo Amos, S, Virginia
- Tavante Beckett, LB, Marshall
- Rakeem Boyd, RB, Arkansas
- Jake Hausmann, TE, Ohio State
- Drake Jackson, C, Kentucky
- Jerry Jacobs, CB, Arkansas
- Tommy Kraemer, G, Notre Dame
- Javon McKinley, WR, Notre Dame
- Dedrick Mills, RB, Nebraska
- AJ Parker, CB, Kansas State
- Sage Surratt, WR, Wake Forest
- Brock Wright, TE, Notre Dame
McKinley received a lucrative payday to join the Lions, receiving $100K in guaranteed money, including an $85K guaranteed base salary (per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter). After dealing with injuries through his first three years of college, McKinley had a breakout campaign in 2020, hauling in 42 receptions for 717 yards and three touchdowns. He’ll be joined in Detroit by two of his college teammates, offensive lineman Tommy Kraemer and tight end Brock Wright.
Jacobs is one of the more intriguing signings. The cornerback put himself on the NFL radar following a 2018 campaign where he compiled 31 tackles, 12 passes defended, and four interceptions. However, he missed the majority of the 2019 season with a torn ACL, and he ultimately sat out the entire 2020 campaign.
Packers Sign 7 UDFAs
The Packers have added on to their rookie class. The team agreed to terms with seven undrafted free agents today (per the team’s website):
- Jacob Capra, OL, San Diego State
- Coy Cronk, OL, Iowa
- Jon Dietzen, OL, Wisconsin
- Bailey Gaither, WR, San Jose State
- Jack Heflin, DL, Iowa
- Carlo Kemp, LB, Michigan
- Christian Uphoff, S, Illinois State
Dietzen will surely be a fan favorite in camp, as the offensive lineman grew up in nearby Black Creek, Wisconsin. Dietzen actually retired from football after the 2018 campaign, but he returned this past season and started all seven games for Wisconsin, including time at left guard, right guard, and left tackle.
Some scouts expected Uphoff to a be a fourth- or fifth-round pick (per The Athletic’s Bob McGinn), but he ended up falling off the board entirely. The Illinois State product had a standout season, but he suffered a hamstring injury that ultimately put a damper on his pro day. However, the prospect isn’t letting the draft process ruin his hopes of reaching the NFL.
“It happened,” Uphoff said of his workout (via McGinn). “If I would have had better numbers, I’m sure I would have been drafted. You’ve got to deal with it.”
As The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman tweets, these signings take the Packers to 88 players, leaving room for two more additions. The reporter believes the organization could use both of those spots on quarterbacks, whether it be rookies or veterans.
Ravens Select Ohio State CB Shaun Wade
Shaun Wade has finally been selected. The standout Ohio State cornerback was selected by the Ravens at No. 160.
Wade had three productive seasons with the Buckeyes, including a 2020 campaign where he compiled 34 tackles, two interceptions, and four passes defended. This performance earned him a long list of accolades, including Tatum–Woodson Defensive Back of the Year. He was also a consensus All-American and first-team All-Big Ten selection.
While the defensive back was once considered to be a potential first-round pick, a tough performance in the national championship game ruined his draft stock. Specifically, Alabama wideout DeVonta Smith had 12 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns … in just the first half. Wade also had an underwhelming pro day, which didn’t endear himself to scouts.
“Had he come out last year, he probably would have been a first-round pick, at least in the conversation for a first-round pick,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said earlier today. “He tried to do the right thing, went back to college, just a really brutal year. I talked to several scouts and evaluators about Wade. As one said, this year’s film is really bad. The [pro day] workout is just okay. I know that the scouts on this evaluator’s team just didn’t really like him.”
Saints Select Notre Dame QB Ian Book At No. 133
The Saints are preparing for the post-Drew Brees era, and they’re giving a shot to a rookie quarterback. With pick No. 133, the Saints have selected Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book.
Book had a breakout campaign in 2019, tossing 34 touchdowns vs. only six interceptions. He couldn’t carry that production over to 2020, but he still had a solid season, completing 64.6-percent of his passes for 2,830 yards, 15 touchdowns, and three interceptions. That performance ultimately earned him third-team All-ACC honors.
Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston both sit atop the Saints depth chart, and it sounds like the organization will give each of the veterans an equal crack at the starting gig. Book probably won’t see the field much as a rookie, but there’s a chance he could get some snaps if the other two QBs struggle.
Lions Acquire No. 113 From Browns
After picking at No. 112, the Lions have traded for No. 113. Detroit has acquired the selection from the Browns. The full deal is:
- No. 113, No. 257 to Detroit
- No. 153, 2022 4th to Cleveland
The pick was originally owned by the Panthers.
Detroit has used No. 113 on linebacker Derrick Barnes. The Purdue product earned second-team All-Big Ten honors this past year after finishing with 54 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss.
Titans Acquire No. 109 From Panthers
The Titans have jumped up to No. 109. Tennessee has acquired the early fourth-round selection from the Panthers. Carolina will acquire No. 126, No. 166, and No. 232 from the Titans.
The Titans have used their new selection on wide receiver Dez Fitzpatrick. The Louisville product had his best collegiate season in 2020, finishing with 833 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 43 catches. The Titans have been connected to wideouts throughout the pre-draft process, and it was a bit of a surprise when they didn’t add a player at the position through the first two days of the draft.
Vikings Tried To Trade Into Second Round
The Vikings entered last night and ended last night with four third-round picks, but it sounds like the front office tried to consolidate those selections and move into the second round. General manager Rick Spielman told reporters that he tried to trade into the second round but the price proved to be too expensive (via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Twitter).
The Vikings didn’t own a second-round pick thanks to last year’s Yannick Ngakoue trade. They managed to somewhat recoup that investment when they shipped the veteran to the Ravens for a third-round pick. Spielman then added another pair of third-rounders from the Jets when Minny moved back from No. 14 to No. 23.
The team ultimately used each of those third-round picks last night (including their own):
- Round 3: No. 66 (from Jets) Kellen Mond, QB (Texas A&M)
- Round 3: No. 78 Chazz Surratt, LB (North Carolina)
- Round 3: No. 86 (from Seahawks through Jets) Wyatt Davis, G (Ohio State)
- Round 3: No. 90 (from Ravens) Patrick Jones II, DE (Pittsburgh)
The Vikings will have plenty of opportunities to move around the board on Saturday. The team has six selections between the fourth and sixth rounds, including three selections in the fourth round.
Richard Sherman Has Talked With 49ers, Seahawks, Saints, Raiders
Richard Sherman may be taking his time finding a new team, but that’s not due to a lack of interest. Speaking to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, the five-time Pro Bowler revealed that he’s had talks with four teams: the 49ers, Seahawks, Saints, and Raiders (via ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter).
None of these teams are overly surprising. Despite making it clear that he was ready to move on from San Francisco, Sherman clearly has respect for Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch, so it makes sense that he’s considering the team where he spent the past three years. Sherman also recently said that he’d be open to a reunion with the Seahawks, and the Seahawks could use a corner who is familiar with the defense, seeing as how they lost Shaquill Griffin to the Jaguars in free agency.
The Saints were also said to have interest in Sherman last month, though that’ll require some creative accounting given their cap situation. Also, a few days after that report, the Saints re-upped defensive back P.J. Williams on a one-year, $2.3MM deal. Sherman hasn’t been previously connected to the Raiders, but he seems like a natural fit with the city and head coach.
The Stanford product was limited to only five games this past year and recently turned 33, but he was still a second-team All-Pro in 2019. He’ll be an interesting gamble for a team, as he’s past his prime and coming off an injury-plagued year, but also played at a very high level not too long ago. The veteran has indicated that he’d like to play two more years.
49ers Trade No. 43 To Raiders; Raiders Select TCU S Trevon Moehrig
Another trade! The 49ers are sending the 43rd overall pick to the Raiders, who will use it on TCU safety Trevon Moehrig.
Here’s the breakdown of the trade:
Raiders Receive
- No. 43
- No. 229
49ers Receive
- No. 48
- No. 121
Moehrig is a two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection, and many pundits — like ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. — considered him to be the best safety in the 2021 class. He is a definite playmaker, having recorded nine takeaways over the past two seasons. He also earned the Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation’s top defensive back. He is at his best when asked to play a single-high, “centerfielder” role.
Still, no matter what role Moehrig is put into, his defensive coordinator should appreciate the player’s versatility. While he’ll have to improve his hands a bit in the NFL to play a position besides safety, he could eventually see time as a bruising slot corner.
It was a pretty big surprise that both Oregon’s Jevon Holland and UCF’s Richie Grant went ahead of him, as Moehrig was widely expected to be the first safety off the board. It’s quite possible the Raiders made this move specifically to get ahead of the Cowboys at 44, as many believed Dallas could be targeting Moehrig.