Pats Sign Seven Draftees, Seven UDFAs
The Patriots announced the signings of a number of rookies today, announcing in a press release that they’ve signed eight of their 11 draft picks, and another seven undrafted free agents. Two of those draft picks – fourth-rounder Tre’ Jackson and seventh-rounder Xzavier Dickson – had their deals previously reported, but six of the names are new, and Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweets that a ninth draftee has signed his contract as well.
The following picks have signed their contracts, per the team and Wilson:
- Jordan Richards, DB (second round)
- Geneo Grissom, DE (third round)
- Trey Flowers, DE (fourth round)
- Shaq Mason, OL (fourth round)
- Matthew Wells, OLB (sixth round)
- A.J. Derby, TE (sixth round)
- Darryl Roberts, CB (seventh round)
Of New England’s 11 draft picks, only first-rounder Malcom Brown and fifth-round long snapper Joe Cardona remain unsigned. In addition to locking up most of their draft class, the Pats have formally inked seven undrafted free agents to deals. Here are those players:
- David Andrews, C, Georgia
- Devin Gardner, WR, Michigan ($5K bonus, plus $10K guaranteed salary, per Dave Birkett)
- Chris Harper, WR, California ($15K bonus, plus $5K guaranteed salary, per Aaron Wilson)
- Jimmy Jean, DB, Alabama-Birmingham
- Brandon King, DB, Auburn
- Eric Patterson, DB, Ball State
- Vince Taylor, DL, Vanderbilt ($2.5K bonus, per Jeff Howe)
Raiders Sign 14 Undrafted FAs
The Raiders have signed 14 undrafted free agents to their roster, adding them in time for rookie minicamp, the team announced today in a press release. Here’s the complete list, via the team:
- Rob Daniel, CB, BYU
- Quinterrius Eatmon, OL, South Florida
- Cody Fajardo, QB, Nevada
- Jacoby Hale, LB, Utah
- Jimmy Hall, S, Northwestern
- Josh Harper, WR, Fresno State
- Gabe Holmes, TE, Purdue
- Gus Johnson, RB, Stephen F. Austin
- Tevin McDonald, S, Eastern Washington
- Braylon Mitchell, LB, Arkansas
- Leon Orr, DT, Florida
- Terrell Pinson, S, Louisiana Tech
- Josh Shirley, LB, UNLV ($5K bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
- Milton Williams, WR, Delaware State
Cowboys Place Josh Brent On Retired List
1:21pm: Brent has released a statement officially announcing his retirement from the NFL, via Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter link). Within the statement, Brent remarks that he has “made the decision that football isn’t as much of a priority in [his] life as other things at this time.”
11:25am: Although he hasn’t made a formal announcement on the matter, defensive tackle Josh Brent has been placed on the reserve/retired list by the Cowboys, signaling that he has decided to end his playing career, according to Nick Eaton of DallasCowboys.com (via Twitter).
Brent, 27, returned to the Cowboys in November after serving a 10-game suspension which stemmed from a car accident that resulted in the death of his teammate Jerry Brown in December of 2012 — Brent, who voluntarily took the 2013 season off as well, was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.
Although Brent didn’t see much action during his return in 2014, he played a little for the Cowboys down the stretch. Having signed an extension that kept him under team control through the 2015 season, the defensive lineman had been expected to return to Dallas this year. Instead, it appears he has elected not to continue playing football.
In addition to placing Brent on the reserve/retired list, the Cowboys also made a few more roster moves, according to Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com, who tweets that the team cut linebacker Dekoda Watson, linebacker Troy Davis, and offensive tackle Donald Hawkins.
Draft Signings: Bears, Ravens, Pats, Giants
A number of mid- to late-round draft picks have agreed to terms with their respective teams so far today. Here’s the list of draftees who have been locked up by their teams, along with four-year contract information, via Over The Cap:
- Baltimore Ravens: Za’Darius Smith, DE/OLB (fourth round). $2.763MM, including signing bonus of $483K (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
- Carolina Panthers: Cameron Artis-Payne, RB (fifth round). $2.446MM, including signing bonus of $166K (Twitter link via David Newton of ESPN.com).
- Chicago Bears: Hroniss Grasu, OL (third round). $3.042MM, including signing bonus of $762K (Twitter link via Bears’ official account)
- New England Patriots: Tre’ Jackson, G (fourth round). $2.724MM, including a signing bonus of $444K (Twitter link via Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal).
- New York Giants: Owa Odighizuwa, DE (third round). $3.021MM, including signing bonus of $741K (Twitter link via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post).
- Seattle Seahawks: Ryan Murphy, S (seventh round). $2.333MM, including signing bonus of $53K (Twitter link via agent Adam Snyder)
- Washington: Jamison Crowder, WR (fourth round). $2.826MM, including signing bonus of $546K (Twitter link via John Keim of ESPN.com).
- Washington: Tevin Mitchell, CB (sixth round). $2.413MM, including signing bonus of $133K (Twitter link via Keim).
Ravens Sign 15 Undrafted Free Agents
With rookie minicamps getting underway around the NFL, teams continue to officially confirm which undrafted free agents have been added to their rosters in time for the weekend. The Ravens announced today in a press release that they’ve signed 15 UDFAs, and we’ve got the full list below, including known bonus information, via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun:
- Darius Allen, OLB, Colorado State-Pueblo ($1K bonus)
- Darryl Baldwin, T, Ohio State ($9K bonus)
- Brennen Beyer, OLB, Michigan ($6K bonus)
- DeAndre Carter, WR, Sacramento State ($7.5K bonus)
- Blaine Clausell, T, Mississippi State ($10K bonus)
- Trey DePriest, ILB, Alabama ($5K bonus)
- Nick Easton, T, Harvard ($9K bonus)
- Kaleb Johnson, G, Rutgers ($6.5K bonus)
- Jerry Lovelocke, QB, Prairie View A&M ($5K bonus)
- Terrence Magee, RB, LSU ($3K bonus)
- Justin Manton, P, Louisiana-Monroe
- Nick Perry, S, Alabama ($5K bonus)
- De’Ondre Wesley, T, BYU
- Julian Wilson, CB, Oklahoma ($9K bonus)
- Cam Worthy, WR, East Carolina ($2.5K bonus)
Bengals Sign 11 Undrafted Free Agents
The Bengals have officially announced the 11 undrafted free agents they added to their rookie class for 2015. Here’s the full list, via the club’s official Twitter account, along with known bonus info:
- Troy Hill, CB, Oregon
- Chris Jasperse, G, Marshall
- Jake Kumerow, WR, Wisconsin-Whitewater
- Matt Lengel, TE, Eastern Kentucky
- Tom Obarski, K, Concordia-St. Paul
- Floyd Raven, DB, Texas A&M ($5K bonus, per Coley Harvey)
- Trevor Roach, LB, Nebraska ($2.5K bonus, per Harvey)
- Jake Smith, C, Louisville
- Terrell Watson, RB, Azusa Pacific ($6K bonus, per Harvey)
- Mark Weisman, FB, Iowa
- DeShawn Williams, DT, Clemson ($5K bonus, per Harvey)
While he hasn’t signed with the team, another noteworthy player is in attendance at Cincinnati’s minicamp this weekend. According to Zac Jackson of Fox Sports Ohio (Twitter link), quarterback Terrelle Pryor, having recently been cut by the Chiefs, is trying out for the Bengals.
Latest On Russell Wilson Extension Talks
Russell Wilson and the Seahawks still don’t appear to be anywhere close to reaching an agreement on a long-term extension that will keep the quarterback in Seattle for the next several years, according to multiple reports. Both Danny O’Neil of 710 ESPN Seattle and Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com indicate that there’s a significant gap between what sort of deal Wilson is seeking and what the Seahawks have offered.
According to O’Neil, while it may take a six-year offer in the $120MM range, with half of that money fully guaranteed, to get Wilson to sign, the Seahawks haven’t put anything like that on the table. In fact, O’Neil hears that the team’s offer is believed to be worth closer to $80MM for four years. While the per-year average sounds about right on that sort of deal, the guarantee presumably wouldn’t be nearly as significant as Wilson is seeking.
O’Neil also points out that since Wilson is still in his rookie contract, his 2015 salary of $1.542MM should be taken into account — if Seattle simply wants to tack a four-year extension onto that deal, it lowers Wilson’s overall average annual salary significantly, as he’d be making about $81.5MM over five years. That modest 2015 salary is one factor that makes these negotiations so unique, and tricky, according to La Canfora.
While La Canfora doesn’t offer specific figures like O’Neil does, the CBSSports.com scribe also hears that the two sides are far apart in contract talks. Per La Canfora, the Seahawks’ initial offer looked more like the pay-as-you-go deals that players like Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick signed, rather than a contract in line with the game’s top quarterbacks have received.
O’Neil is somewhat optimistic that the Seahawks and Wilson will bridge the gap and strike a deal before the 2015 season gets underway, while La Canfora is becoming increasingly convinced that the two sides won’t work anything out until 2016, unless owner Paul Allen steps in. La Canfora also notes that, if the two sides aren’t making much progress this summer, Wilson may decide to shut down talks until after the season to avoid off-field distractions come September.
Andrew Luck, the other top quarterback from 2012’s draft class, will also be in line for an extension at some point, but there’s less urgency for Luck and the Colts since the team has picked up his fifth-year option for 2016. A third-round pick, Wilson doesn’t have a fifth-year option on his deal, meaning he can be eligible for unrestricted free agency – or the franchise tag – after the 2015 season, so this situation is one worth monitoring closely over the next few weeks and months.
Lions Sign 12 Undrafted FAs
The Lions have officially signed 12 undrafted free agents, formally announcing the latest additions to their roster today. As Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com points out in his round-up, players like Joseph Fauria, LaAdrian Waddle, and Cornelius Lucas have joined the club as UDFAs in recent years and stuck around, so there may be a couple diamonds in the rough in 2015’s class.
Here’s the full list, with bonus info – via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press – noted in parentheses:
- Al Bond, G, Memphis ($6K bonus)
- Anthony Boone, QB, Duke ($3K bonus)
- Kyle Brindza, K, Notre Dame ($7.5K bonus)
- Isaiah Johnson, S, Georgia Tech ($12K bonus)
- Vernon Johnson, WR, Texas A&M Commerce ($10K bonus)
- Desmond Lawrence, WR, North Carolina A&T
- Casey Pierce, TE, Kent State ($7K bonus)
- Kevin Snyder, LB, Rutgers ($1K bonus)
- Brian Suite, S, Utah State ($2.5K bonus)
- Rasheed Williams, RB, Alfred State ($2.5K bonus)
- Torrian Wilson, OL, UCF ($11K bonus)
- Zach Zenner, RB, South Dakota State ($5K bonus)
Texans Sign Entire Draft Class
The Texans have locked up their entire 2015 draft class in one fell swoop, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, who reports (via Twitter) that the club has signed all seven of its draftees. That includes first-round cornerback Kevin Johnson and second-round linebacker Benardrick McKinney.
According to Over The Cap’s draft pool figures, Johnson will be in line for a four-year contract worth more than $10MM, including a signing bonus of about $5.569MM. His deal will include a fifth-year option for 2019 as well. As for McKinney, he’ll earn $5.345MM over his four-year rookie deal, including a $2.147MM signing bonus.
Other Texans players who are now under contract with the team include third-round receiver Jaelen Strong, fifth-round wideout Keith Mumphery, sixth-round outside linebacker Reshard Cliett, sixth-round defensive tackle Christian Covington, and seventh-round running back Kenny Hilliard.
As our draft pick signings tracker shows, Houston is the third team to finish signing its 2015 draft class. The Dolphins and Vikings have also reached agreements with all their draftees.
2015 NFL Draft Pick Signings
Having made their draft picks for 2015, the next step for NFL teams is to get their draftees under contract. We’ll keep tabs on which players have signed in this space, with teams listed in alphabetical order and a tally of their signed picks noted in parentheses. This page can be found on the right-hand sidebar under “PFR Features.”
Here’s the full list:
Arizona Cardinals (7/7):
- 1-24: D.J. Humphries, T (Florida): Signed
- 2-58: Markus Golden, DE/OLB (Missouri): Signed
- 3-86: David Johnson, RB (Northern Iowa): Signed
- 4-116: Rodney Gunter, DL (Delaware State): Signed
- 5-158: Shaq Riddick, DE (West Virginia): Signed
- 5-159: J.J. Nelson, WR (UAB): Signed
- 7-256: Gerald Christian, TE (Louisville): Signed
Atlanta Falcons (7/7):
- 1-8: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB (Clemson): Signed
- 2-42: Jalen Collins, CB (LSU): Signed
- 3-73: Tevin Coleman, RB (Indiana): Signed
- 4-107: Justin Hardy, WR (East Carolina): Signed
- 5-137: Grady Jarrett, DT (Clemson): Signed
- 7-225: Jake Rodgers, T (Eastern Washington): Signed
- 7-250: Akeem King, S (San Jose State): Signed
Baltimore Ravens (9/9):
- 1-26: Breshad Perriman, WR (UCF): Signed
- 2-55: Maxx Williams, TE (Minnesota): Signed
- 3-90: Carl Davis, DT (Iowa): Signed
- 4-122: Za’Darius Smith, DE/OLB (Kentucky): Signed
- 4-125: Buck Allen, RB (USC): Signed
- 4-136: Tray Walker, CB (Texas Southern): Signed
- 5-171: Nick Boyle, TE (Delaware): Signed
- 5-176: Robert Myers, G (Tennessee State): Signed
- 6-204: Darren Waller, WR (Georgia Tech): Signed