Colts Sign Seven UDFAs
After adding nine rookies via the draft, the Colts are continuing to add first-year players to their roster. The team announced that they’ve signed seven undrafted free agents, including a pair of quarterbacks:
- Jason Bean, QB/WR (Kansas)
- Trent Pennix, RB (NC State)
- Spencer Shrader, K (Notre Dame)
- Kedon Slovis, QB (BYU)
- Dalton Tucker, G (Marshall)
- Xavier White, WR (Texas Tech)
- Craig Young, LB (Kansas)
Interestingly, the Colts listed former Kansas signal caller Jason Bean as both a quarterback and wide receiver. That’s not a complete surprise considering the rookie’s running ability. In three seasons at Kansas, Bean rushed for 901 yards and nine touchdowns on 178 carries. With Anthony Richardson atop the depth chart and Joe Flacco in place as the backup, Bean’s best shot at a roster spot will surely come at a different position. Kedon Slovis will have a similar uphill battle to make Indy’s roster. The quarterback had an up-and-down college career, with his 30-touchdown campaign as a freshman in 2019 representing his career-high. He most recently got into eight games at BYU, tossing 12 touchdowns vs. six interceptions.
Among all the UDFAs, Spencer Shrader probably has the most realistic shot at a roster spot, as the rookie will compete with veteran Matt Gay for the Colts’ primary kicker spot. Shrader finished his college career having connected on only 68.3 percent of his field goal attempts, although he was 156-for-158 on his extra point tries.
49ers Sign Eight Undrafted Free Agents
The 49ers have been active signing their rookies to contracts, finalizing deals with six of their eight draft picks. The team also found time to add a group of undrafted free agents, as the team announced that they’ve signed eight rookie free agents:
- Evan Anderson, DL (Florida Atlantic)
- Jaylen Mahoney, S (Vanderbilt)
- Briason Mays, OL (Southern Mississippi)
- Tanner Mordecai, QB (Wisconsin)
- Drake Nugent, OL (Michigan)
- Terique Owens, WR (Missouri State)
- Mason Pline, TE (Furman)
- Cody Schrader, RB (Missouri)
Evan Anderson got a significant pay day to join the 49ers offseason roster. The Florida Atlantic product earned a $30K signing bonus and had $250K of his base salary guaranteed, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. The defensive lineman was productive in four collegiate seasons, compiling 20 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and three fumble recoveries. Elsewhere on defense, Jaylen Mahoney joins the 49ers after snagging four interceptions and collecting 17 passes defended in fives seasons with the Commodores.
Tanner Mordecai bounced around during his college career. He didn’t play much in three seasons at Oklahoma before transferring to SMU, where he tossed 72 touchdowns across two seasons. He spent the 2023 campaign at Wisconsin, where he connected on nine touchdowns in 10 games. During rookie minicamp, he’ll be joined on the offensive side by Cody Schrader, who is coming off a breakout 2023 campaign where he collected 1,818 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns. The 49ers also added Terique Owens, who is the son of former 49ers star wideout Terrell Owens.
Patriots Sign Nine UDFAs
Bill Belichick had a penchant of rostering unheralded UDFAs throughout his long tenure in New England. In fact, at least one undrafted free agent made the Patriots opening-day roster for 19-straight seasons before the streak ended last season. Jerod Mayo, Eliot Wolf, and co. will be looking to restart that habit in 2024, with the team adding nine undrafted free agents to the roster:
- DeShaun Fenwick, RB (Oregon State)
- Kaleb Ford-Dement, CB (Texas State)
- Zuri Henry, OT (Texas-El Paso)
- Jontrey Hunter, LB (Georgia State)
- John Morgan, DE (Arkansas)
- Dell Pettus, S (Troy)
- Charles Turner, C (Louisiana State)
- Mikey Victor, CB (Alabama State)
- Jacob Warren, TE (Tennessee)
Jontrey Hunter finished his six-year stint at Georgia State with his best season, finishing the campaign with 96 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. The linebacker showed the ability to get after the quarterback in college and could get a look on the edge for the Patriots. The team also added a notable pass rusher in John Morgan, who compiled 14 sacks at Pitt between the 2019 and 2022 seasons. His numbers dropped following a transfer to Arkansas in 2023, with the defensive end compiling only 15 tackles and a pair of sacks.
On the other side of the ball, Jacob Warren provides some intrigue at tight end. The six-foot-six, 246-pound rookie had a consistent role at Tennessee over the past three years, averaging 15 receptions for 177 yards and more than two touchdowns per season. DeShaun Fenwick saw his collegiate career turn around following a transfer to Oregon State in 2021. Over the past three seasons, the RB collected 1,621 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns.
Falcons Add DB Dane Cruikshank, DL Bradlee Anae
The Falcons are adding a pair of defenders to their offseason roster. The team is signing defensive back Dane Cruikshank and defensive lineman Bradlee Anae, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The duo auditioned for the Falcons yesterday.
Cruikshank is the more experienced of the two, with the defensive back having appeared in 54 career games (plus four playoff appearances). The majority of that playing time came with the Titans, where the former fifth-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career.
After compiling a career-high 43 tackles in 2021, Cruikshank has bounced around the NFL over the past couple of years. The defensive back joined the Bears in 2022, primarily appearing on special teams before landing on IR midway through that season. He was released by the Jets last offseason before catching on for his second stint with the Titans, where he got into a pair of games.
Cruikshank’s versatility makes him a valuable back-of-the-depth-chart option for a team. However, considering the Falcons will return much of their secondary depth in 2024 (plus the fact that they also added former Cardinals part-time starter Antonio Hamilton), Cruikshank’s best chances of making the roster would come via special teams.
Anae was a fifth-round pick by the Cowboys in 2020 and got into 11 games across two seasons with the organization. He’s spent the past two seasons bouncing between the Jets practice squad and active roster.
Bengals’ Trey Brown Declines Patriots Interview
The Patriots have kicked off their search for a “top football executive,” but one of the team’s targets has already rejected an interview. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Bengals senior personnel executive Trey Brown has declined an interview for the Patriots’ de facto GM job.
[RELATED: Patriots Begin Top Executive Search]
A move to New England would be a bit of a reunion for Brown, as the 39-year-old started his front office career as a Patriots scout. He followed that up with a long stint in Philadelphia, where he eventually climbed to the role of Eagles director of college scouting. Brown had brief stints in the AAF and XFL before joining the Bengals as a scout in 2021. Following one year with the organization, he was promoted to his current role of senior personnel executive.
Brown’s rise through the Bengals organization coincided with the team’s on-field turnaround, and the executive garnered plenty of praise for his role in the operation. He first popped up on the GM carousel in 2022 when he earned an interview for the Raiders GM job. He got another look for the Raiders job this offseason but walked away empty handed. Considering his track record, Pelissero notes that Brown will remain a top GM candidate during next year’s hiring cycle.
While the Patriots have continually signaled that they’ll eventually be conducting a search for a front office leader, today’s development still comes as a bit of a surprise. After moving on from head coach/de facto GM Bill Belichick, the team basically handed the reins to Eliot Wolf, who retained his title of director of scouting. While the new-look Patriots relied on a group effort to fill the Belichick-sized void, Wolf played a major role in the team’s free agency and draft approach. With the roster pretty much set (and the organization having made a significant decision with Drake Maye at No. 3), the team will now curiously consider another executive to lead the way.
With that said, Wolf’s presence may cause some issues for Robert Kraft and the Patriots’ top decision makers. As Ben Volin of the Boston Globe notes, the Patriots may have a tough time convincing candidates that Wolf isn’t “a lock to get the job.” For what it’s worth, Volin notes that the Patriots have already complied with the Rooney Rule in regards to their GM vacancy.
The Patriots haven’t employed a traditional GM since Kraft took over ownership of the organization. It sounds like the long-time owner is once again considering a creative approach to his front office.
Raiders, OL Andrus Peat Agree To Deal
Andrus Peat has found a new home in the post-draft wave of free agency. The longtime Saints offensive lineman has agreed to a deal with the Raiders, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
A 2015 first-round pick, Peat has spent his entire career in New Orleans, starting 102 of his 111 appearances (plus six playoff starts). That included a three-year stretch between 2018 and 2020 where he started all 36 of his games while earning Pro Bowl nods each season. Injuries were often a theme during Peat’s tenure with the Saints; the lineman missed 36 regular season games in nine seasons, including 17 between 2021 and 2022.
Peat bounced back from a health perspective in 2023, appearing in a career-high 16 games. The veteran initially lost his starting guard spot to James Hurst, but Peat eventually worked his way into the lineup at left tackle. Pro Football Focus only ranked him 56th among 81 qualifying offensive tackles, although he did improve on his performance from the previous two campaigns.
The veteran inked a five-year, $57.5MM deal with the Saints in 2020, but after a series of restructurings, the final year of that pact was voided. That made Peat a free agent following the 2023 campaign, and it’s been a relatively quiet offseason for the lineman. The 30-year-old has only been connected to the Titans, although it was assumed his market would pick up following the draft.
Considering Peat’s versatility, he should be in the mix for a starting role in Les Vegas. The Raiders added Cody Whitehair via free agency before selecting Jackson Powers-Johnson in the second round of the draft. Peat will join that duo and holdover Dylan Parham in a competition for the two starting guard spots, although the latest acquisition’s versatility means he could also see some opportunities at either tackle spot.
Tyreek Hill Wants To Finish Career With Dolphins
Tyreek Hill previously hinted that he could hang up his cleats at the conclusion of his current contract. During a recent appearance on the Around the Bar podcast, Hill implied that he’s aiming for one more mega-deal, and the receiver made it clear that he wants to sign that next contract with the Dolphins.
“I love Miami. I love every bit of it,” Hill said (h/t ProFootballTalk.com). “My wife loves it, the kids love it, my mom loves it, and it’s just a beautiful city to live in. There’s so much stuff to do. Obviously, I would like to retire in Miami, but we all know how the NFL is, how jobs go, and people getting promotions over here and we understand that. But Miami is a great city. I love the team I play on, love the guys in the locker room, love the head coach, love the GM. So that means sign me. I love all you guys so much, I want to stay in Miami forever, man. Keep me there.”
Hill’s “sign me” statement is especially telling considering the terms of his current pact. While the receiver is technically signed through the 2026 season, that $30MM-per-year deal only contains guarantees through the 2024 season. That means negotiations on a reworked deal and/or an extension are surely coming, and a divorce will remain a possibility if the Dolphins refuse to meet Hill’s inevitable demands.
Hill now ranks third at his position in average annual salary (behind A.J. Brown and Amon-Ra St. Brown), so it’s not like the Dolphins would be eyeing a significant pay raise. The front office could simply proceed with the current terms of the contract, but there’s a chance Hill will push for some security beyond this upcoming campaign. The Dolphins will also have to consider an extension for Jaylen Waddle, who will be finishing up his rookie contract in 2025.
The Dolphins have been signaling that they intend to move forward with their two-headed monster at wide receiver. Odell Beckham Jr.‘s new contract is for only one season, and the Dolphins only committed to a pair of late-round receivers in the draft (Malik Washington and Tahj Washington). Both Hill and the Dolphins seemingly want to finish out the contract (or even add to it), but the eventual negotiations will likely reveal if that’s a real possibility.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/6/24
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: QB Emory Jones, DE C.J. Ravenell
- Waived: WR Jelani Baker, DT Tre Colbert
Green Bay Packers
- Released: CB Anthony Johnson, DL Deandre Johnson
- Waived/injured: WR Thyrick Pitts
New York Jets
- Signed: QB Andrew Peasley, QB Colby Suits, DB Brandon Codrington
- Waived: QB PeeWee Jarrett, LB Tre Jenkins, DL Manny Jones
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Shon Stephens
Latest On Joe Burrow’s Injury Recovery
Nearly six months after suffering a torn wrist ligament, Joe Burrow is throwing to his receivers. The Bengals franchise quarterback hit a significant milestone in his recovery from a wrist injury, as the team’s website passes along that Burrow was participating in the team’s offseason program today.
Monday marked the start of the second phase of the Bengals’ voluntary offseason program. When Burrow underwent surgery to repair a damaged ligament in the middle of his right wrist, it was uncertain when the quarterback would return to the practice field. There were rumblings that Burrow might not start throwing until training camp, but the veteran ended up beating that timeline by almost three months.
While today’s practice wasn’t open to the media, many members of the Bengals organization were excited about Burrow’s recovery, including new QB coach Brad Kragthorpe.
“I think he looked as quick and as athletic as I’ve seen him look,” Kragthorpe told the team’s website. “He looked like the Joe Burrow we’re used to seeing. I didn’t see any difference. I thought the ball came out of his hand well. Confidently. I’m happy where he’s at.”
The late-November surgery ended an injury-marred 2023 campaign for Burrow. Prior to his season-ending injury, the QB was slowed by a calf issue during training camp. That injury continued an ongoing theme where Burrow would miss extended time during training camp (following recovery from an ACL injury (2021) and an appendectomy (2022)).
Burrow previously admitted to ESPN’s Ben Baby that he normally “wouldn’t be throwing until OTAs really anyway,” so the QB sounds like he’s a bit ahead of his standard offseason regimen. Still, given the player’s list of offseason setbacks, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the organization eventually pumps the brakes and takes it slow with their franchise quarterback.
Ravens Received Eight Trade Offers For No. 30 Pick
Before the Ravens scooped up one of the draft’s top defensive prospects in Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins, the team fielded many trade offers for the No. 30 pick. According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, the front office rejected eight trade offers for the team’s first-round selection.
[RELATED: Ravens Sign First-Round CB Nate Wiggins]
The decision to turn down the trade offers wasn’t entirely due to the underwhelming returns. Instead, the Ravens were ecstatic to land a prospect of Wiggins’ caliber late in the first round. The organization didn’t expect the Clemson product to fall to No. 30, with GM Eric DeCosta declaring Wiggins the draft’s top CB prospect and defensive coordinator Zach Orr declaring Wiggins the draft’s top defensive prospect. So, when Baltimore was on the clock, it was unlikely that any trade suitor would pony up the necessary assets to get them to move on from the defensive back.
“For us, it was always, ‘If Nate [is] there, we [are] going to pick,'” DeCosta said (via Hensley). “In our opinion, [he’s] a guy that can be a true shutdown-type corner.”
The unprecedented run on offensive players allowed the Ravens to snag the elite defensive prospect. Wiggins was only the ninth defensive player off the board, and he was the third defensive back to hear his name called (after Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell and Alabama’s Terrion Arnold).
The 6-2, 175-pounder faced questions about his playing weight, but his length and agility clearly appealed to the Ravens. The cornerback finished his Clemson career having compiled three interceptions and 21 passes defended, culminating in a 2023 campaign where he earned a first-team All-ACC selection.
While the organization clearly has high hopes for their first-round pick, the team has the luxury of not immediately throwing him into the fire. Baltimore has Marlon Humphrey in place as a cornerback cornerstone, and Brandon Stephens had a productive campaign on the opposite side in 2023. Stephens, however, is set to hit free agency following the 2024 campaign, so it shouldn’t take long for Wiggins to force himself into the starting lineup.
“With the guys that we have in our room, they’re truly interchangeable,” said defensive passing game coordinator Chris Hewitt said. “[We’re] trying to get the best guys on the field. Whatever that position is, or how we get them on the field, that’s what it’s all about.”