Packers Sign Davante Adams, Richard Rodgers
4:14pm: Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun confirms (via Twitter) that the Packers have signed Rodgers to his four-year rookie contract, which includes a signing bonus of around $506K.
3:40pm: The Packers have signed second-round wideout Davante Adams to his four-year contract, according to Field Yates of ESPN Boston (Twitter link). Locking up Adams ensures that third-round tight end Richard Rodgers is the only Green Bay draftee who remains unsigned, though the team is also expected to get him under contract today, tweets Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.
Adams, who was selected 53rd overall out of Fresno State, will receive a signing bonus worth about $1.181MM, according to Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap. In total, the four-year contract will have a value in the neighborhood of $3.933MM.
When the Packers get Rodgers signed, they should be the 19th team in the NFL to secure their entire 2014 draft class. You can follow all the draft pick signings using our tracker, right here.
North Notes: Archer, Lions, Suh, Pouncey
Bengals first-round cornerback Darqueze Dennard signed his contract with Cincinnati earlier this afternoon, as did Packers second-round receiver Davante Adams. According to Field Yates of ESPN Boston (Twitter link), one more player out of the NFL’s North divisions also inked his rookie deal today — Steelers third-round running back Dri Archer. The move leaves Pittsburgh with one draft pick left to lock up, in second-round defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt.
Here’s more from around the two North divisions:
- Ndamukong Suh and the Lions have had “intermittent” contract talks since the owners’ meetings this spring, but the club’s minicap ended today without a new agreement in place between the two sides, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. In order to finalize the signing of first-round tight end Eric Ebron, the Lions will have to either restructure Suh’s deal or rework other smaller contracts.
- The Lions worked out former San Diego State offensive tackle Bryce Quigley today, tweets Birkett. Quigley went undrafted last month.
- The Steelers held a press conference today to announce Maurkice Pouncey‘s new contract extension, and the standout center told reporters, including Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Twitter link), that the possibility of testing free agency was “never on [his] mind,” particularly after last year’s knee injury.
- Browns cornerback Buster Skrine vows to fight every step of way to remain starter despite arrival of Justin Gilbert, write Nate Ulrich and George Thomas of the Akron Beacon-Journal. Of course, from the outside, the eighth-overall pick out of Oklahoma State looks like the leading candidate to start opposite of Joe Haden.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Bengals Sign Darqueze Dennard
The Bengals have finished signing their 2014 draft picks, announcing today that first-round cornerback Darqueze Dennard has signed his rookie contract with the club (Twitter link). On the heels of Mike Evans‘ signing with the Bucs earlier today, Dennard becomes the 22nd first-rounder to put pen to paper, meaning there are just 10 still unsigned.
Dennard, 22, was a unanimous All-American selection during his final year at Michigan State, earning All Big-Ten honors and also collecting the Jim Thorpe Award as the top defensive back in college football. Cincinnati nabbed him last month with the 24th overall pick in the draft, making him the third cornerback to come off the board, behind Justin Gilbert and Kyle Fuller.
As the No. 24 pick, Dennard is in line for a signing bonus worth a little over $4.12MM, according to Jason Fitzgerald’s figures at OverTheCap.com. The total value of Dennard’s four-year contract, which also includes a team option for year five, falls just short of $8MM.
Be sure to check out our tracker to see which draft picks still have yet to sign their contracts.
NFC Links: Simpson, Lynch, Giants, Davis
Veteran wide receiver Jerome Simpson was surprised that he had to take a pay cut from the Vikings, write Chris Tomasson and Brian Murphy of the Pioneer Press. Simpson set a career high last season for receiving yards and was two catches shy of his best season ever in that category, but a DUI hurt his leverage. Ultimately, he saw his salary chopped from $2.1MM in 2013 to $1MM in 2014.
“I can’t lie. I was definitely surprised that I get paid less than what I got last year,” Simpson said. “I had my best numbers. But I guess when you got that negative thing on you, they kind of got you behind the eight-ball.“
Here are several more Thursday links from around the NFC:
- No one knows for sure yet if Marshawn Lynch will or won’t be in attendance when the Seahawks‘ mandatory minicamp gets underway, but if the running back holds out for a new contract, it won’t be a surprise, says Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Meanwhile, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap explains why Lynch has to do this now if he wants to strengthen his job security going forward. We heard last night that the Seahawks aren’t expecting Lynch to show up for the start of the camp.
- Although they haven’t signed any new players yet, the Giants are believed to have hosted about 10 non-roster players for auditions yesterday, according to Jordan Raanan and Conor Orr of NJ.com.
- Tight end Vernon Davis is seeking a new contract and didn’t show up for the 49ers‘ voluntary workouts, but he recognizes the mandatory nature of the team’s upcoming minicamp, as Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News writes. “It’s mandatory, so I should be there, for sure,” Davis said during an appearance on KNBR 680-AM in San Francisco.
- While the Packers‘ decision to sign troubled tight end Colt Lyerla last month raised some eyebrows, Green Bay takes pride in developing all kinds of young players, according to Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report, who wonders if Lyerla could fill a void at the position for a club that no longer has Jermichael Finley on its roster.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Buccaneers Sign Mike Evans
Another first-round pick has signed his rookie contract, according to the Buccaneers, who announced today that they’ve locked up Mike Evans to a four-year deal, with a fifth-year team option for the 2018 season (Twitter link via Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com). By our count, Evans is the 21st of 32 first-rounders to officially ink his deal.
The seventh overall pick, Evans was the second receiver off the board last month, after No. 4 pick Sammy Watkins. The former Aggie was a consensus All-American in 2013 at Texas A&M after racking up 69 receptions for 1,394 yards and 12 touchdowns. The 20-year-old was also the first of six offensive players selected by Tampa Bay in a draft class that didn’t include a single defender. So far, the Bucs have secured four of those players, with only tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins and running back Charles Sims still unsigned.
Per Jason Fitzgerald’s numbers at OverTheCap.com, Evans’ four-year contract should have an overall value of about $14.632MM, with a signing bonus worth in the neighborhood of $8.96MM.
Falcons Notes: Dobbins, Southward, Castillo
Yesterday, in the wake of Sean Weatherspoon‘s season-ending Achilles injury, I examined the Falcons’ options for potential linebacker replacements. While Atlanta isn’t likely to find a player capable of replicating Weatherspoon’s production, there are several in-house candidates to play more snaps. Still, I concluded that the Falcons would probably increase their pursuit of an outside option, perhaps bringing in a veteran via free agency. It didn’t take long for reports to confirm that the club was exploring that possibility, with a story last night suggesting Pat Angerer, Jonathan Vilma, and Tim Dobbins were among the Falcons’ potential targets.
Here’s the latest from out of Atlanta:
- Dobbins, who last played for the Texans, is expected to pay a visit to the Falcons today, reports Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Even if Atlanta is impressed by Dobbins and signs him to a contract, that doesn’t mean he’ll be penciled in as Weatherspoon’s replacement, according to McClure, who points out that the club has been impressed by rookies Prince Shembo and Marquis Spruill.
- The Falcons have signed third-round safety Dezmen Southward to his four-year rookie contract, the team announced today in a press release. Southward, the 68th overall selection last month, was the last of nine Atlanta draftees to ink his deal, so the club now has all its picks under contract.
- Kicker Sergio Castillo has also signed a contract with the Falcons, according to the team’s Twitter account. As McClure notes in a tweet, the move means there’s now one opening left on Atlanta’s 90-man roster, potentially for a veteran linebacker like Dobbins or Vilma.
AFC East Notes: Bills, Pouncey, Pats, Jets
Another potential suitor for the Bills has entered the mix, according to Tim Graham of the Buffalo News, who reports that C. Dean Metropoulos, the owner of the Pabst Brewing Company, has interest in owning the franchise. After finishing as a runner-up to Shad Khan for the Jaguars three years ago, Metropoulos and his family have “a continued interest in acquiring an NFL franchise and [expect] to review any such opportunity,” a spokesman told Graham.
Here’s more on the Bills’ sale and some other items from around the AFC East:
- Graham also has an update on another possible buyer for the Bills, writing for the Buffalo News that Terry Pegula, owner of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, recently sold 75,000 acres of Utica and Marcellus Shale leases in West Virginia and Ohio for $1.75 billion. While it’s still not clear how much – if any – interest Pegula has in buying the Bills, the recent sales by his East Resources Inc. and another undisclosed company will make him a “much more formidable bidder” if he decides to enter the mix.
- As both Joel Corry of CBSSports.com and Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald observe (via Twitter), Dolphins center Mike Pouncey shares an agent with his brother, so matching or topping Maurkice Pouncey‘s extension figures to be a goal for Mike when the time comes.
- After waiving R.J. Mattes yesterday to clear a roster spot, the Patriots have signed wide receiver Jeremy Johnson, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Johnson, who went undrafted out of SMU, participated in the Ravens’ rookie minicamp last month.
- Within a roundup of Jets notes, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini notes that head coach Rex Ryan initially wasn’t sold on drafting Maryland cornerback Dexter McDougle, but that others in the organization – such as defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman – eased his concerns. McDougle is the only one of 12 Jets draftees who remains unsigned.
- Jets wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal tells Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News he believes it’s still too early to conclude that former second-round wideout Stephen Hill is a bust. “I have a hard time labeling a guy a bust when he’s done everything in his power,” Lal said. “Luck in terms of injuries hasn’t been on his side. Therefore, he hasn’t produced consistently. And he’s still only 23 years old.”
Bengals Re-Sign Alex Smith
THURSDAY, 9:56am: According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), Smith’s one-year deal, which was negotiated by the tight end himself, is a minimum salary benefit contract that includes a $40K signing bonus and a $25K roster bonus.
TUESDAY, 1:15pm: The Bengals have re-signed Alex Smith, head coach Marvin Lewis confirmed to reporters today, including Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer (Twitter link). Of course, this Alex Smith is the veteran tight end who has also played for the Buccaneers, Eagles, and Browns — not the Chiefs’ quarterback.
Smith, who turned 32 last month, appeared in all 16 regular-season games for the Bengals in 2013, his first year with the team. The former third-round pick was used primarily as a blocker, hauling in just three passes to increase his career reception total to 163. In total, Smith appeared in 257 offensive snaps and was targeted on just six of those plays, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Jermaine Gresham isn’t participating in the Bengals’ offseason workouts due to an undisclosed injury, so Smith could see some extra work this spring and summer. Assuming he makes the roster though, the veteran will likely play the same backup and blocking role he did last year.
Minor Moves: Cowboys, Falcons, Pats, Colts
Today’s minor moves include a veteran defender heading to IR, a CFL signing, and other smaller signings and cuts from around the NFL. Let’s dive in and round up Wednesday’s minor transactions, with additional moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:
- Former Bethel cornerback Jocquel Skinner, who signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in May, has been waived-injured by the club, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Per Wilson, the Cowboys have also removed Marvin Robinson from their IR with an injury settlement.
Earlier updates:
- Tight end Andrew Szczerba and punter Matt Yoklic have been cut by the Falcons, according to a team release. Szczerba spent last season on injured reserve, while Yoklic was signed by Atlanta a month ago as a rookie free agent.
- The Patriots have waived offensive lineman R.J. Mattes, the team announced today in a press release. It’s the third time since last May that the former North Carolina State lineman has been cut by New England.
- The Colts have placed defensive end Fili Moala on injured reserve, tweets Craig Kelley of Colts.com. Moala, who missed half of the 2012 season with a torn ACL, has suffered a similar injury, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Per Rapoport, the 28-year-old’s ACL is only partially torn, but it’s enough to sideline him for the 2014 season. To replace Moala, the Colts have signed former Arizona State defensive end Gannon Conway, who was waived by the Dolphins last month.
- A former Valdosa State wideout with a presidential name has signed with the Dolphins, according the team, who announced today (via Twitter) that Gerald Ford has been added to the roster. Tight end Emmanuel Ogbuehi has been cut to clear space on the roster for Ford.
- Offensive lineman Mike Golic Jr. was cut by the Saints recently, has signed with the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (Twitter link).
NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Giants, Eagles
It took three years, but the Cowboys managed to turn a makeshift offensive line into one of the strengths of the roster, and should head into the 2014 season with a line that features three first-round picks, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. As Archer outlines, Dallas’ defensive line is beginning to undergo the same retooling process that the O-line did. While they added several low-cost veterans with plenty of upside and question marks, it may take multiple seasons for the Cowboys to count the defensive line among the club’s strengths.
Here’s more from around the NFC East:
- Former Rutgers linebacker Jamal Merrell was expected to be among the players working out for the Giants today, according to Conor Orr of the Star-Ledger. Merrell was signed by the Titans after going undrafted last month, but only lasted about a week on the roster.
- Tight end Tom Crabtree is among the veteran players auditioning for the Giants recently, but tweeted today that the team didn’t offer him a contract right away. “No luck with NYG (yet),” Crabtree wrote, hinting that perhaps an offer could come later. “Grateful for the opportunity.”
- Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer takes a look at the safety situation for the Eagles, examining which players are expected to see the most snaps, and which ones may be in danger of not making the regular-season roster.