Cowboys Sign DE Marshawn Kneeland, Complete Draft Class
The Cowboys have completed their draft class signings. The team announced that they’ve signed second-round defensive end Marshawn Kneeland.
The defensive lineman spent five years at Western Michigan, collecting 148 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks. He earned second-team All-MAC honors this past season after setting career-highs in tackles (57) and sacks (4.5). That performance helped make him the 56th-overall pick, with Kneeland representing the sixth defensive end off the board.
With Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence in place, the Cowboys won’t need to lean on the rookie in 2024. Kneeland will likely be competing with 2022 second-round pick Sam Williams for any leftover snaps.
Kneeland was the last of the Cowboys’ eight draft picks to sign. The rest of the team’s draft class includes:
- Round 1, No. 29 (from Lions): Tyler Guyton (T, Oklahoma) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 73 (from Vikings through Lions): Cooper Beebe (G, Kansas State) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 87: Marist Liufau (LB, Notre Dame) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 174: Caelen Carson (CB, Wake Forest) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 216: Ryan Flournoy (WR, Southeast Missouri State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 233 (from Raiders): Nathan Thomas (T, Louisiana-Lafayette) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 244: Justin Rogers (DT, Auburn) (signed)
Latest On Ravens’ Depth At Receiver, Guard
The Ravens haven’t done much to address the receiver position this offseason, as the team is set to return much of the same depth chart in 2024. As the coaching staff navigates the last few receiver spots on the roster, they could ultimately decide to add some reinforcement. As Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic writes, “it’s not impossible” that the Ravens add a wide receiver before the start of training camp.
Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor are all but locked in atop the depth chart, and fourth-round rookie Devontez Walker will surely account for another spot. With Odell Beckham Jr. and Devin Duvernay out the door, the Ravens will likely have two more holes to fill at the position. Zrebiec points to Tylan Wallace and Deonte Harty as the most likely candidates for the role, especially considering their ability to replace Duvernay as a returner.
The Ravens have a handful of other notable players who will be competing for one of the receiver spots. Malik Cunningham is a former QB-turned-WR who the Ravens snagged off the Patriots practice squad last season. The team is also rostering Sean Ryan, the team’s lone 2023 UDFA who stuck around at the position.
The current grouping of unsigned veteran receivers isn’t very inspiring, with the likes of Michael Thomas, Hunter Renfrow, and Corey Davis leading the list. While Zrebiec hinted that the Ravens could look to add to the position prior to training camp, the organization could also await the assorted wideouts who will shake loose during the preseason.
Elsewhere in Baltimore, Zrebiec notes that the team is having an open competition with their two starting guard spots. While Ben Cleveland would be the favorite for one of the starting nods, Zrebiec believes the lineman will have to prove he can stay healthy and consistent. Zrebiec also believes former seventh-round pick Andrew Vorhees will eventually work his way into the starting lineup, although the team could temporarily turn to a more experienced option like Josh Jones.
Dolphins To Sign S Marcus Maye
Marcus Maye has found his next squad. The veteran safety is signing with the Dolphins, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.
Maye was cut by the Saints earlier this offseason, ending his two-year stint in New Orleans. At the time, we heard the defensive back was drawing interest from a handful of teams, including the Titans. However, it’s been quiet on the Maye front for about three months before today’s news. Schultz notes that Maye did indeed attract interest from “multiple” suitors. Ultimately, Maye opted for the Dolphins because he wants to be part of a hopeful “Super Bowl contender” in Miami.
The Saints gave Maye a three-year, $22.5MM contract in March 2022, but he only got into 17 games across two seasons with the organization. Injuries and multiple arrests impacted his stint in New Orleans. Maye’s three-game ban — levied midway through last season — stemmed from a DUI arrest while the DB was with the Jets, but the player was also arrested for aggravated assault with a firearm in fall 2022.
New Orleans ultimately decided to move on following a 2023 campaign where Maye was limited to seven games. While his counting stats were serviceable (including a pair of interceptions), Pro Football Focus graded him only 80th among 95 qualifying safeties. The site was much kinder with their 2022 assessment, grading Maye as the 26th-best safety.
The former second-round pick had five up-and-down seasons with the Jets to begin his career. Maye was a top-20 safety between 2018 and 2020, including that latter season where PFF ranked him fifth at his position. However, before he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in 2021, Maye graded as one of the league’s worst safeties through six games.
Of course, the Dolphins won’t be nearly as dependent on Maye. The team brought in another former AFC East safety in Jordan Poyer, pairing the veteran with Jevon Holland in the starting lineup. The rest of the team’s depth at the position consists of Elijah Campbell, sixth-round rookie Patrick McMorris, and UDFAs Mark Perry and Jordan Colbert, meaning Maye should be in line for a role as a key backup.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/10/24
Today’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Waived: LB Steele Chambers
New York Giants
- Placed on reserve/retired list: TE Darren Waller (story)
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: RB Gary Brightwell
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived/injured: NT Buddha Jones
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: WR Deven Thompkins
Brightwell was waived/injured by the Giants in May but ultimately reverted to IR. The former sixth-round pick struggled to carve out a role behind Saquon Barkley in New York. Brightwell’s tenure with the Giants will officially end with the RB having collected 256 yards from scrimmage.
Thompkins suffered a hamstring injury in late May that ultimately led to him getting waived/injured. As ESPN’s Jenna Laine notes, it’s about a two-week recovery timeline for the Grade 1 strain, meaning the wideout should be on the brink of full health.
Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times passed along a troubling wrinkle to the situation last week, noting that Thompkins’ release quickly followed public accusations of spousal abuse from his estranged wife. The woman, Maria Castilhos, posted pictures of injuries that she claims were sustained in February of 2023.
“First and foremost, Deven categorically denies the allegations levied against him by his estranged wife, Maria Castilhos,” attorney Brett Gallaway said in the statement. “Unfortunately, Deven and Maria have been going through a contentious divorce proceeding and child custody battle, and it appears that she thought it would help her case to release these false and defamatory videos.
“… We expect he will be fully exonerated after a review of the facts, background, and clear ulterior motive behind the release of these videos and fabricated assault allegations.”
Thompkins served as Tampa Bay’s primary returner in 2023, finishing with 16 kickoff returns (for 327 yards) and 25 punts (for 234 yards). The former UDFA had a limited role on offense, hauling in 17 catches for 83 yards and one touchdown. As Stroud notes, coach Todd Bowles said the “door is open” to Thompkins returning to the Buccaneers once he’s healthy, although the team has already replaced him on the roster with Cody Thompson.
Chargers Sign OT Joe Alt To Rookie Deal
The Chargers have officially locked in the fifth-overall pick. The team announced that they’ve signed first-round offensive tackle Joe Alt to his rookie contract.
A two-time first-team All-American, the 6-foot-8 Alt was widely considered the draft’s top offensive line prospect. The Notre Dame product was ultimately the second non-QB off the board (behind Marvin Harrison Jr.) when the Chargers selected him with the fifth-overall pick.
After playing left tackle in college, Alt is expected to slide to the right side of the line opposite Rashawn Slater. While Alt’s main priority will be protecting franchise QB Justin Herbert, the Chargers are also expected to lean more on the running game in 2024. Besides the team subtracting a pair of elite wideouts in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, new head coach Jim Harbaugh added Greg Roman before reuniting the new OC with RBs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins.
With this signing, the Chargers’ only remaining unsigned draft pick is second-round wideout Ladd McConkey. Otherwise, the team has completed deals with:
- Round 3, No. 69: Junior Colson (LB, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 105: Justin Eboigbe (DL, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 137 (from Chargers): Tarheeb Still (CB, Maryland) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 140: Cam Hart (CB, Notre Dame) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 181: Kimani Vidal (RB, Troy) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 225: Brenden Rice (WR, USC) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 253: Cornelius Johnson (WR, Michigan) (signed)
Steelers Sign Zach Frazier, Complete Rookie Signings
The Steelers have completed their draft pick signings. The team announced that they’ve signed second-round center Zach Frazier to his four-year rookie contract.
The West Virginia product got into 47 games during his collegiate career, including a 2023 campaign where he earned first-team All-Big 12 honors after not allowing a single sack. That performance helped put him firmly on the NFL map, and he was ultimately the second center off the board (behind Graham Barton) when he was selected at No. 51.
“They’re getting a hard worker who is going to give everything he has to the organization to win football games,” Frazier said in a team statement. “I couldn’t be more excited.”
The Steelers moved on from Mason Cole this offseason, opening a starting spot for Frazier. Considering the rookie’s versatility (he played both center and guard in college), the Steelers could shift Frazier around if necessary. The Steelers will also feature another rookie starting OL in first-round offensive tackle Troy Fautanu.
Today’s move completes the Steelers’ draft pick signings. The team’s entire draft class includes:
- Round 1, No. 20: Troy Fautanu (OL, Washington) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 84: Roman Wilson (WR, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 98 (from Eagles): Payton Wilson (LB, NC State) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 119: Mason McCormick (G, South Dakota State) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 178 (from Cardinals through Panthers): Logan Lee (DT, Iowa) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 195: Ryan Watts (CB, Texas) (signed)
Vikings Moving N’Keal Harry To TE
N’Keal Harry has struggled to carve out a role as a receiver during his professional career. Now, the former first-round pick will be looking to make an NFL roster as a tight end. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters that Harry will be switching positions ahead of the 2024 campaign.
“N’Keal is really fired up about it,” O’Connell said (via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com). “He has attacked the process, long before we even got started in the offseason program. But you’re hoping to see the receiving traits lead the way early on, as they get a little more comfort in maybe having their hand down, being a part of run schemes, the different kind of run schemes that we’re implementing, and N’Keal has shown that. . . . At this stage in his career a position change is unique, but we’re hoping we’re developing a guy who can be a real third-down weapon, red-zone weapon, with his skill set.”
Harry was a bust in New England, as the Arizona State product was unable to click with Tom Brady, Cam Newton, and Mac Jones. His best season came in 2020, when he hauled in 33 catches for 309 yards and two scores. Otherwise, his Patriots tenure saw him collect another 24 receptions. He caught seven passes for the Bears in 2022 before spending the 2023 campaign as a special teamer in Minnesota.
This position change should only help the 26-year-old’s chances of making the 2024 roster. Andrew Krammer of The Star Tribune passed along yesterday that star tight end T.J. Hockenson will likely start the season on injured reserve as he recovers from a torn ACL. That would open a spot on the depth chart for at least the first four weeks of the season.
The Vikings will return the same TE grouping next season, meaning Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt will be the likeliest candidates to fill in for Hockenson. Harry would be competing with the likes of Nick Muse and veteran Robert Tonyan for one of the final spots on the depth chart.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 6/5/24
One draft pick signing to pass along:
New England Patriots
- G Layden Robinson (fourth round, Texas A&M)
Robinson was a four-year starting lineman at Texas A&M, with the guard earning a pair of second-team All-SEC nods during his tenure. The 6-foot-3, 311-pound rookie could find himself in the starting lineup to begin the season, as Cole Strange could miss the start of the 2024 campaign.
With the signing, second-round wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk is now New England’s only unsigned draft pick.
No Timetable For Patriots QB Drake Maye To Enter Starting Lineup
The Patriots are hoping they found their QB of the future in third-overall pick Drake Maye. However, after signing veteran Jacoby Brissett as a seat-warmer, the organization isn’t in any rush to throw their rookie quarterback into the fire. While speaking with reporters, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said there’s no specific timetable to elevate Drake into the QB1 role.
“I think you have to take that as it comes,” Van Pelt said (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “There is no timetable. Jacoby, again, is our starter and he’s playing excellent football for us in the spring. And Drake is coming on. So until that changes, we’re going to stick with what we got.
“We always talk about earning your reps around here. So as he continues to grow and have successful practices and start stacking those, then we can think about moving him up the depth chart. It’s a process. It’s a marathon. We’re going to take our time and do it the right way.”
As the OC noted, there are still some skills that Maye has to develop before he can enter the starting lineup. While the rookie has quickly adapted to the team’s footwork requirements, he’s still a work in progress when it comes to “calling plays from the huddle.” While there is certainly enthusiasm for Maye’s inevitable ascension into the starting lineup, Van Pelt opines that this developmental time will only help the player’s long-term outlook.
“I think of it as a marathon over a sprint,” Van Pelt said. “You just don’t go out and run a marathon. You have to train properly for a marathon. It’s the same with a quarterback,” he said, when asked the key tenets of developing a rookie at the position.
“There’s a process. We follow that process. We trust that process. You can’t just stick a guy out there and expect him to be successful without the proper training. We’re making moves in the right direction.”
The coaching staff will naturally have a major say in Maye’s development, with Van Pelt and new head coach Jerod Mayo having significant influence over the decision. The OC revealed that the recently promoted Eliot Wolf, who is serving as New England’s executive vice president of player personnel, will also be involved with the decision.
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa: There’s Been “A Lot Of Progress” On Extension Talks
While Tua Tagovailoa was in attendance for the start of Dolphins OTAs, there’s still uncertainty surrounding his extension talks with the organization. We learned recently that the front office had indeed submitted an offer to the quarterback, but the player’s no-show from offseason workouts indicated that the offer was rejected.
[RELATED: Tua Tagovailoa In Attendance For Dolphins’ OTAs; QB Rejected Extension Offer]
Despite both sides expressing interest in speedy negotiations, Tagovailoa is still sitting with only a year remaining on his contract. However, the quarterback did express some optimism in completing a deal while speaking with reporters yesterday.
“Well, I think there’s been a lot of progress at this point,” Tagovailoa said (via Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network). “From where we started, there’s been a lot of progress. Now, you can ask the other question — then why aren’t we seeing an agreement? Well, that’s the tough part about it. That’s why it’s business. That’s why you’ve got one side and the other trying to work to meet in the middle.”
While Tagovailoa described himself as “antsy” as he awaits a new contract, he said he’s not “frustrated” or “concerned.” The QB did acknowledge that he’s more than aware of the rising QB market, including Jared Goff‘s recent contract with the Lions.
“Well, I’ll tell you one thing, the market is the market,” Tagovailoa said (via Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald). “If we didn’t have a market, then none of that would matter, it would just be an organizational thing. It didn’t matter if that guy got paid that because it’s an organizational thing. So that’s what I would say — the market is the market. That’s it.”
Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says there’s “some optimism” that the two sides will agree to a deal and it’s simply “a matter of time.” Rapoport notes that Tagovailoa has done everything he can do to establish himself as a franchise QB, including playing a full season and leading his team to the postseason. The top of the quarterback market surged past $50MM per year last offseason, and Tagovailoa’s attendance at OTAs should signal that the front office is willing to hit that mark.
In terms of on-the-field developments, NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reports that Tua lost between 10 to 15 pounds this offseason. That brings the QB’s playing weight down to around 220 pounds.