NFL Workouts: Callaway, Falcons, Buggs
Here’s a look at some of the league’s recent tryout invitations:
- The Colts will host former Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway at minicamp for a tryout, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The fourth-round pick for Cleveland in 2018 made an impact during his rookie season before running into issues with the league’s substance abuse policies and Cleveland’s team rules. The Browns waived Callaway during his sophomore season. He signed with the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL, but was placed on injured reserve before ever appearing in a game. He’s had short stints since then with the Dolphins and Chiefs and now has an opportunity to stick in Indianapolis.
- Michael Rothstein of ESPN reported that the Falcons will host a trio of players for tryouts this weekend: former Packers wide receiver Geronimo Allison, quarterback Anthony Gordon, and center Evan Boehm. Allison spent the first four years of his career in Green Bay, never surpassing 303 receiving yards or two touchdowns in a season. He appeared in three games last year for the Lions. Gordon has spent time rostered in Seattle, Denver, and Kansas City after going undrafted in 2020. After getting drafted in the fourth round of 2016, Boehm has bounced around to eight different NFL squads, appearing in 55 games, starting 21.
- Former Steelers nose tackle Isaiah Buggs will attend the Vikings minicamp for a tryout, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The sixth-round pick from 2019 spent three seasons in Pittsburgh earning six starts last season before getting waived at the turn of the year. Buggs briefly signed to the Raiders practice squad and will now look for a new home in Minnesota.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/14/22
Today’s minor moves in the NFL:
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: CB Drew Hartlaub
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: OL Cole Banwart
- Waived: OL Ty Clary (failed physical)
New York Giants
- Signed: DL Ryder Anderson, DB Jordan Mosley
Bengals Announce 16-Man UDFA Class
After adding six rookies to the team in the NFL Draft last month, the Bengals announced the addition of 16 undrafted free agents:
- Cal Adomitis, LS (Pittsburgh)
- Ben Brown, OG (Ole Miss)
- Devin Cochran, OT (Georgia Tech)
- Allan George, CB (Vanderbilt)
- Jaivon Heiligh, WR (Coastal Carolina)
- Clarence Hicks, LB (UTSA)
- Delonte Hood, CB (Peru State College)
- Shermari Jones, RB (Coastal Carolina)
- Kwamie Lassiter II, WR (Kansas)
- Desmond Noel, OG (Florida Atlantic)
- Kendric Pryor, WR (Wisconsin)
- Bookie Radley-Hiles, S (Washington)
- Justin Rigg, TE (Kentucky)
- Jack Sorenson, WR (Miami University)
- Tarigious Tisdale, DL (Ole Miss)
- Carson Wells, LB (Colorado)
Continuing their focus on addressing the offensive line, Cincinnati brought in some potential depth pieces who will have an opportunity to earn playing time for the reigning conference champions.
Brown started for three seasons after redshirting his first for the Rebels, moving from right guard to center in his last collegiate season. Cochran transferred to the Yellow Jackets after four years at Vanderbilt. Even as a newcomer, the blindside tackle was selected as Georgia Tech’s weekly-Captain for five of the team’s twelve games. Noel joined the Owls after a stint at Fort Scott Community College. He started for three years on the Owls’ offensive line, taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility provided by COVID-19.
The Bengals also added some potential contributors at receiver. Heiligh was two-yards away in 2020 from posting consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons while catching a combined 17 touchdowns in his last two years with the Chanticleers. Lassiter II improved every year for the Jayhawks, averaging 11.1 yards per reception in his redshirt senior season. Pryor provides some versatility, displaying some rushing ability for the Badgers throughout his college career in addition to his duties as a receiver. Sorenson had an impressive freshman year for the RedHawks before going relatively quiet over the next two seasons. He came back with a vengeance in his final college season, exploding for 1,406 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Browns Announce 12 UDFA Signings
This morning, the Browns officially announced the addition of 12 undrafted free agents to their rookie class:
- D’Anthony Bell, S (West Florida)
- Junior Faulk, CB (Delta State)
- Mike Harley Jr., WR (Miami)
- Travell Harris, WR (Washington State)
- Brock Hoffman, C (Virginia Tech)
- Shaun Jolly, CB (Appalachian State)
- Silas Kelly, LB (Coastal Carolina)
- Glen Logan, DT (LSU)
- Zaire Mitchell-Paden, TE (Florida Atlantic)
- Roderick Perry II, DT (Illinois)
- Ben Petrula, OT (Boston College)
- Isaiah Weston, WR (Northern Iowa)
Harley leaves the Hurricanes as the school’s all-time leader in career receptions (182, surpassing former Colts receiver Reggie Wayne) and single-game receptions (13). He’ll be joined in Cleveland by the Cougars’ receptions and receiving-touchdowns leader from last season, Travell Harris.
Logan spent six years in Baton Rouge, playing a key role in the Tigers’ run to their 2019 National Championship victory over Clemson, contributing a half-sack in the title game.
Jolly provides some electric ability at corner. He’s an aggressive cornerback who returned two picks for touchdowns in 2019. Jolly adds 25 passes defensed and 2 forced fumbles over his 45-game college career.
Titans Sign 17 UDFAs & 1 International Allocation
After making a litany of moves on Draft Day, including trading away star wide receiver A.J. Brown, Tennessee added 17 undrafted free agents to their existing nine-man drafted rookie class:
- David Anenih, OLB (Houston)
- Tre Avery, CB (Rutgers)
- Julius Chestnut, RB (Sacred Heart)
- Haskell Garrett, DT (Ohio State)
- Jack Gibbens, LB (Minnesota)
- Michael Griffin II, S (South Dakota State)
- Hayden Howerton, OG (SMU)
- Brandon Lewis, WR (Air Force)
- Jalen McKenzie, OT (USC)
- Xavier Newman-Johnson, OG (Baylor)
- Thomas Odukoya, TE (Eastern Michigan)
- Sam Okuayinonu, DT (Maryland)
- Jayden Peevy, DL (Texas A&M)
- Reggie Roberson, WR (SMU)
- Andrew Rupcich, OL (Culver-Stockton)
- Caleb Shudak, K (Iowa)
- Ryan Stonehouse, P (Colorado State)
- Tre Swilling, CB (Georgia Tech)
Anenih set career highs this year for the Cougars and made himself a priority for the Titans, signing for a guaranteed $150,000, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Tennessee also saw the Hawkeye kicker as a priority, guaranteeing Shudak an impressive $40,000 at signing, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network.
Odukoya played 40 career games at Eastern Michigan and is one of four players joining the league from the International Player Pathway Program. Odukoya, who hails from the Netherlands, will look to help strengthen the pipeline of international players to the NFL.
Jackrabbits safety Griffin II holds no relation with former Titans safety Michael Griffin.
Dolphins Announce 14-Man UDFA Class
After only adding four rookies through the 2022 Draft, the Dolphins signed a 14-man undrafted free agent class:
- Blaise Andries, OL (Minnesota)
- Owen Carney, DL (Illinois)
- Ty Clary, OL (Arkansas)
- Tanner Conner, TE (Idaho State)
- Kellen Diesch, OT (Arizona State)
- Elijah Hamilton, CB (Louisiana Tech)
- Tommy Heatherly, P (Florida International)
- Deandre Johnson, OLB (Miami)
- Kader Kohou, CB (Texas A&M-Commerce)
- Verone McKinley, S (Oregon)
- Braylon Sanders, WR (Ole Miss)
- Ben Stille, DL (Nebraska)
- ZaQuandre White, RB (South Carolina)
- Jordan Williams, DT (Virginia Tech)
Miami was able to add some potential gems for their offensive line, bringing in two four-year starters from the Big Ten and SEC in Andries and Clary. They also made sure to bring in Diesch, a two-year starter for the Sun Devils after transferring from Texas A&M, signing him with a guaranteed amount of $140,000, according the Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus.
The Dolphins also think they’ve uncovered a diamond in the rough out of northeast Texas. They signed Kohou out of Texas A&M-Commerce with a guaranteed amount of $130,000, according to Kyed.
Miami will also keep some prospects close to home. Johnson transferred from Tennessee to spend his last year of college close to home with the Hurricanes. Heatherly isn’t a Florida native, but he spent the last three years of college in Miami at Florida International.
Bears Cut Recently Signed UDFA, Sign New UDFA
Chicago recently announced their undrafted rookie free agent class and held their rookie minicamp. One of the recently signed undrafted rookies, former Utah State return specialist Savon Scarver, has been cut, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network.
Scarver was a consensus All-American return man. In five years with the Aggies, Scarver had seven kickoff return touchdowns, making sure to return at least one a year, even in the team’s COVID-shortened, four-game 2020 season. He added 757 yards receiving and 5 receiving touchdowns to his stat sheet, but he was mainly seen as a special teamer at the next level.
Along with their 16 announced UDFAs, the Bears invited 36 other undrafted players for rookie tryouts at minicamp. Among those 36, was Western Michigan defensive back A.J. Thomas. Thomas played safety for most of his career with the Broncos, but switched to linebacker for his final season.
It appears that he was asked to participate in Chicago as a defensive back. Regardless, at the conclusion of rookie minicamp, the Bears agreed to sign him as an undrafted free agent, according to Wilson.
NFC Rumors: Gronkowski, Bears, Dean, Graham, Lions, Patterson
In an interview with Sports Illustrated last weekend, free agent tight end Rob Gronkowski was asked about the potential for his return. In reality, the question and answer were played off a bit as a joke.
The reporter specifically asked Gronkowski if he would return should Tampa Bay sign retired wide receiver Julian Edelman. Gronkowski didn’t hesitate to commit to returning for a full season alongside Edelman were that to occur. Realistically, if Gronkowski is to return for another season with the Buccaneers, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones expects that decision to be made after minicamps.
Here are a few more rumors from around the NFC, starting with a rumor out of the Windy City:
- In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Bears heavily addressed their offensive line, drafting four offensive linemen and signing one more undrafted free agent lineman. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune expects the team to continue trying to add to the group, saying that they should be on the lookout specifically for “an experienced option to compete for the right guard job.” Biggs also expects Chicago to target veterans at defensive line and wide receiver over the next few weeks.
- New Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean was expected to be a first round pick during last month’s Draft. Dean was the victim of one of the least predictable slides of all time, falling down to the third round of the Draft due to concerns over his health. Well, according to EJ Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Dean has been a full participant in the team’s rookie minicamp, making an effort to disprove the notion many teams held that he would potentially miss his entire rookie season with a pectoral injury.
- Two games into the 2021 NFL season, Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham suffered a season-ending tear of his Achilles tendon. Well, according to Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com, Graham says he feels like the injury never even happened. He will return to the field with no restrictions this preseason. This wouldn’t be the first time Graham has made a full recovery from a long-term injury. He tore his ACL 13 games into his rookie season. Despite the serious injury, Graham has become the impact player he is today, the same player he is expecting to be this upcoming season.
- Two Thursdays ago, the Lions were more than happy to walk away from the 2022 Draft with the hometown defensive end from Michigan, Aidan Hutchinson. If things had not worked out so perfectly for Detroit, though, and Hutchinson had been told to pack his bags for Duval, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports that the Lions would have selected the player Jacksonville actually did select, Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker.
- Falcons wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson has always been a bit of a swiss army knife. He has made impressive plays in the kick and punt return games and, while performing mainly as a wide receiver for most of his career, Patterson has displayed the ability to run the ball when required, as well. After signing to join the Falcons last year, Patterson was asked to run the ball more than ever before, serving as Atlanta’s top rusher in terms of both attempts and yards. Well, Michael Fabiano of Sports Illustrated quoted ESPN’s Michael Rothstein stating his belief that Patterson will return to his primary position, expecting the 31-year old to spend more time at wide receiver than running back next year. Whether this would be a result of offseason additions like free agent signing Damien Williams or newly drafted Keaontay Ingram or if Patterson just requested a return to his natural role, Patterson is expected to take fewer snaps at running back next season.
AFC Rumors: Jaguars, Williams, Van Roten, Leonard, Browns, Griffin III
After the Jaguars fired former head coach Urban Meyer, it became public that Jacksonville had no intentions of paying Meyer the remaining money on his contract, as he was being fired for cause. There was speculation at the time that the parties may follow existing precedents and negotiate a settlement in order to avoid a legal situation.
According to Jarrett Bell of USA Today, an anonymous source with knowledge of the situation informed the columnist that, to date, the two sides have been unable to strike a settlement agreement.
Here are a few other rumors from around the AFC, starting with a rumor out of South Beach:
- The Dolphins should have plenty of options for their offensive line configuration, but it most likely hinges on what they do with interior offensive lineman Connor Williams. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Miami isn’t quite sure what to do with Williams, working him at center and left guard over the past three weeks. The good news, is that it gives them plenty of options. With Terron Armstead solidified at left tackle and Robert Hunt solidly at right guard, Williams could fit at either position. If you put Williams at left guard, the team would likely have Michael Deiter start at center and leave Liam Eichenberg and Austin Jackson to compete for the starting right tackle job. If you start Williams at center, Eichenberg can slide in to the left guard job and Jackson can man the right tackle position.
- The Jets recently released guard Greg Van Roten. According to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, head coach Robert Saleh claimed that they released Van Roten because they believe he has the potential to start for other teams in the league. His release is meant to allow him to find those teams that would provide him a starting opportunity. Saleh was quoted saying they’d “love to have him back,” if he fails to find such opportunities.
- Colts linebacker Darius Leonard had ankle surgery in June last year before the season. The surgery helped him to get healthy for the season, where he played every game but one and was named a first-team All-Pro for the third time in his career. While the ankle is still ailing him, Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star reported that Leonard says the ankle is better now than it was at this point last year. This is an encouraging sign for Leonard and a scary message for the other teams in the AFC South. Leonard has been named to an All-Pro team every year of his career while being nagged by his ankle ailment. A healthy Leonard is a dangerous weapon for opposing teams to have to game-plan against.
- With the return of free agent wide receiver Jarvis Landry seeming less and less likely, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com believes the Browns will be able to push a bit harder now for free agent pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney to return. Cabot points out that drafting UAB pass rusher Alex Wright makes the need to sign Clowney a little less urgent, but also mentions that fellow pass rusher Myles Garrett wants Clowney back, which could help his case. Cabot claims that, if the two parties can’t agree to a new deal, Cleveland will consider former Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes instead.
- We’ve all seen Rich Eisen of NFL Network run the 40-yard dash for charity. Well, this year, former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, currently an analyst for ESPN, participated and reportedly was clocked at 4.48 seconds. Mike Florio of NBC Sports reports that on Eisen’s show, Griffin made the claim that some teams took notice of his impressive run and reached out to him. This doesn’t necessarily mean that any teams have offered to bring him back to the NFL, but Griffin has publicly stated his desire to return to football in the past, even claiming that his contract with ESPN would allow him to sign with an NFL team if the opportunity presents itself. Griffin last spent time in the league as Lamar Jackson‘s back up on the Ravens. He filled in multiple times leading many to wonder if he still had the ability to lead an NFL offense based on his brief appearances.
Center Billy Price To Visit Cardinals
Former first-round pick Billy Price is looking to join the third team of his career. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Price will be visiting the Cardinals with hopes to end his stint as a free agent. 
Price was drafted No. 21 overall in 2018 to become the new starting center for the Bengals. After starting the first two games of his rookie season, Price injured his foot and missed six games before returning to start the rest of the season. He started his sophomore season on the bench, returning to the starting lineup intermittently throughout the year. In his third season, Price was much more consistently on the bench, starting only one game in 2020, his last start as a Bengal. The Bengals declined his fifth-year option at the conclusion of the season, making the 2021 NFL season a contract year for Price.
Just prior to the 2021 season, Cincinnati traded Price to the Giants in exchange for defensive tackle B.J. Hill. Price didn’t start Week 1 for the Giants, possibly due to the short acclimation period, but earned the starting center job for the rest of the season, only sitting out a Week 17 game to heal from a personal family loss.
Last year, Arizona traded for then-Raiders center Rodney Hudson. While Hudson performed well during his first year in Arizona, he did miss five games throughout the year, some with rib and shoulder injuries and some with COVID-19. Arizona no longer rosters Max Garcia who filled in for Hudson last year, and the only other center on the roster is Marcus Henry who has appeared in six games since joining the league in 2016 without ever making a start.
If signed, Price would add some quality depth to the Cardinals’ offensive line, giving them a solid back up option should Hudson need to miss any games next year.