Recap Of Undrafted Free Agent Signings
Since the draft came to an end on Saturday evening, we’ve been keeping tabs on undrafted rookies signing with NFL teams, passing along the moves that have been confirmed by either a club or the league itself. Over the course of the week, all 32 clubs have made their UDFA signings official, and we’ve rounded up those announcements below, sorted by team.
In some cases, teams have added one or two extra rookie free agents to their group after announcing their initial class, so we’ve tried to keep those moves contained to the same post in which we initially passed along the team’s UDFA class, wherever possible.
Check out the list below to find your favorite team’s undrafted free agent signings:
AFC East
AFC North
AFC South
AFC West
NFC East
NFC North
NFC South
NFC West
Minicamp Notes: Jets, Packers, Bears, Colts
Most of the NFL’s 32 teams will be conducting rookie minicamps this weekend, where clubs will get a first look at their draftees, and undrafted prospects and unsigned free agents will have a chance to make their case for a roster spot. Let’s check in on the latest links related to these rookie camps:
- The Jets‘ rookie minicamp is underway and the team has announced that 37 players are in attendance on a tryout basis, vying for spots on the roster. Former Buccaneers defensive back Ahmad Black is among the notable names on the list.
- Tight end Colt Lyerla, who was plagued by off-field issues at Oregon, is among the free agents getting a chance to audition for a roster spot at the Packers‘ rookie minicamp this week. Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (via Twitter) shares a photo of Green Bay’s full minicamp roster.
- Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter) provides a PDF link to the Bears‘ rookie minicamp roster, which includes 38 invitees auditioning for a spot on the team.
- In a series of four tweets, Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star lists the unsigned players brought in by the Colts to participate in the club’s rookie minicamp.
- The Buccaneers‘ rookie minicamp roster includes five players from the University of South Florida, as Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune notes before listing the participants.
- Don’t expect to hear any updates about a Giants‘ rookie minicamp. The club is one of two teams – the Bengals are the other – that elected to bypass the rookie minicamp this year, as head coach Tom Coughlin explains to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. The Giants opted to immediately mix its new additions in with the veteran players instead.
Texans Announce 20 UDFA Signings
The Texans took their time in announcing their rookie free agent signings, but the team has officially done so today, revealing the names of their UDFA additions in a press release. Here’s the complete list:
- Jason Ankrah, OLB, Nebraska
- Chris Boswell, K, Rice
- Austin Brown, DL, Miami (Ohio)
- Max Bullough, ILB, Michigan State
- Chris Coyle, TE, Arizona State
- Anthony Denham, TE, Utah
- Tyrone Ezell, DL, Pittsburgh
- Matt Feiler, OT, Bloomsburg
- James Ferentz, OT, Iowa
- Kevin Forsch, G, Houston
- Sullivan Grosz, DL, Cal Poly
- Travis Labhart, WR, Texas A&M
- Terrance Lloyd, OLB, Baylor
- Chris Martin, T, Central Florida ($7.5K bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
- Chris McAllister, OLB, Baylor
- Anthony McClung, WR, Cincinnati
- Nathan Slaughter, WR, West Texas A&M
- Marcus Williams, CB, North Dakota State
- Bryan Witzmann, OT, South Dakota State
- Chris Young, ILB, Arizona State
Colts Sign Second-Rounder Jack Mewhort
The Colts have locked up their fourth of five draft picks, signing offensive lineman Jack Mewhort to his rookie deal, according to agent Mike McCartney (via Twitter). Although Mewhort was the first player selected by Indianapolis, the club won’t hold a fifth-year option on the Ohio State product, since he was a second-round pick.
With Mewhort signed, the only remaining draftee who still needs to ink his contract with the Colts is third-round wide receiver Donte Moncrief. As for Mewhort, the 59th overall pick in 2014 will be in line for a signing bonus worth around $919K, while the total base value of his four-year deal should be about $3.574MM.
Draft Signings: Lions, Packers, Ravens, Vikes
Several dozen of this year’s draftees have already signed their contracts, and many more will do so today. Here’s the latest round of signings for mid-to-late-round draft picks:
- The Lions have locked up a pair of draftees, signing fourth-round defensive end Larry Webster and seventh-round kicker Nate Freese, tweets Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. Webster should receive a signing bonus worth a little over $300K, while Freese’ bonus will amount to about $59K, per Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap.
- Fourth-round linebacker Carl Bradford has signed his four-year deal with the Packers, the team announced today in a press release. Green Bay now has four of nine draft picks under contract.
- The Ravens have agreed to terms with fourth-round running back Lorenzo Taliaferro, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Having come off the board just two picks after the Lions selected Webster, Taliaferro should be in line for an identical bonus of about $300K.
- Fifth-round offensive lineman David Yankey has signed his contract with the Vikings, according to agent Mike McCartney (via Twitter). Yankey becomes the first of 10 Minnesota draft picks to ink his rookie deal.
South Notes: Texans, Saints, Titans, Panthers
The Texans have locked up a couple more draft picks, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, who tweets that third-round defensive tackle Louis Nix and sixth-round defensive end Jeoffrey Pagan have agreed to terms with the club.
Nix’s case is an example of how much it can cost a player early in his career financially if he slips in the draft — heading into the second day, there were rumblings that Houston might grab the Notre Dame product with the first pick in the second round. Instead, the Texans nabbed him midway through the third round. The difference? Nix gets a signing bonus of about $575K rather than $2.358MM, per Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap.
Here’s more from out of the NFL’s two South divisions:
- The NFLPA has advised agents to keep their clients apprised about “potential consequences” of signing with the Saints, given the proposal currently making its way through Louisiana State Legislature, tweets Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports. The proposed legislation would reduce the compensation pay for Saints players injured during OTAs or workouts.
- According to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (Twitter links), a total of about 20 undrafted free agents and non-rookies have been invited to try out at the Titans‘ minicamp this week, including linebackers D’Aundre Reed and Greg Lloyd Jr., defensive tackle Lanier Coleman, and defensive end Cordian Hagans.
- The Panthers have formally released a list of 35 players who are participating in their minicamp on a tryout basis. Former Buccaneers safety Cody Grimm and ex-Bills punter Shawn Powell are among the invitees who have previous NFL experience.
- Former agent Joel Corry and former team executive Ari Nissim continue to conduct mock extension negotiations between the Texans and J.J. Watt in part four of their illuminating series for the National Football Post.
- West Texas A&M kicker Sergio Castillo is among the players in camp with the Saints on a tryout basis this week, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
Lions Sign 12 UDFAs, Cut Eight Players
FRIDAY, 10:09am: The Lions have officially signed one more undrafted free agent, inking Robert Morris offensive lineman A.J. Dalton to a contract, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Dalton received a $2.5K signing bonus, per Birkett (via Twitter).
MONDAY, 3:45pm: The Lions have signed 11 undrafted free agents to contracts, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. In order to make room for the new additions, the team also cut eight players: Cornerback Nate Ness, safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, tight end Matt Veldman, kicker John Potter, wide receiver Carlin Isles, linebacker Jon Morgan, center Sherman Carter and wide receiver Cody Wilson.
While none of those players was expected to be a real contributor in Detroit this season, there are a couple notable names in the group. Isles is a rugby speedster who was considering coming to camp with the Lions, while Potter had been expected to compete for the kicking job vacated by David Akers.
Here’s the full list of the club’s UDFA signings:
- Chad Abram, FB, Florida State ($7.5K bonus, per Dave Birkett)
- Alex Bullard, G, Tennessee ($500 bonus)
- Jerome Couplin, S, William and Mary ($6K bonus)
- James Franklin, QB, Missouri ($2K bonus)
- Justin Jackson, LB, Wake Forest ($2.5K bonus)
- Cornelius Lucas, OT, Kansas State ($20K bonus)
- Gabe Lynn, S, Oklahoma ($2.5K bonus)
- Jacob Maxwell, TE, Louisiana Lafayette ($3K bonus)
- D.J. Morrell, G, Old Dominion ($2.5K bonus)
- Andrew Peacock, WR, Appalachian State ($2.5K bonus)
- Mohammed Seisay, CB, Nebraska ($5K bonus)
Jets Sign Second-Round Pick Jace Amaro
The Jets have agreed to terms on a four-year rookie contract with second-round tight end Jace Amaro, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). The team confirmed the signing in a tweet shortly after Mehta made his report.
Amaro, who turns 22 next month, will join a Jets team that re-signed Jeff Cumberland earlier in the offseason, but failed to bring aboard an impact tight end in free agency, despite pursuing players like Brandon Pettigrew. Whether he’s catching balls from Michael Vick or Geno Smith in the fall, Amaro figures to step in and play a major part in New York’s offense from the get-go.
As Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap details, Amaro’s signing bonus should be worth about $1.442MM, and his four-year contract should have an overall base value of around $4.293MM.
Redskins Sign Six Draft Picks
Rather than announcing their 2014 draft pick signings one at a time, the Redskins nearly got the entire class locked up before making an announcement today. According to the team, six of eight Redskins draftees have officially signed their rookie contracts. That group includes guard Spencer Long, cornerback Bashaud Breeland, wide receiver Ryan Grant, running back Lache Seastrunk, tight end Ted Bolser, and kicker Zach Hocker.
With those six players under contract, only second-round linebacker Trent Murphy and third-round offensive tackle Morgan Moses remain unsigned for Washington.
Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap has the breakdown of the anticipated signing bonuses and overall contract values for the Redskins’ picks, including those that have yet to officially sign. Meanwhile, if you want to keep tabs on all of this year’s draft pick signings, you can do so right here.
QB Coach: Browns Owner Involved In Trade For Manziel
Although general manager Ray Farmer and the Browns have repeatedly denied that owner Jimmy Haslam exerted any influence in the team’s draft room last week, quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains suggests that’s not quite the case. Appearing on Sports Talk with Bo Mattingly on ESPN Radio in Arkansas, Loggains said that a text from Johnny Manziel inspired Haslam and the Browns to trade up for him.
“We’re sitting there and they keep showing Johnny on TV,” Loggains said, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “And Johnny and I are texting and he shoots me a text and he says, ‘I wish you guys would come get me. Hurry up and draft me because I want to be there. I want to wreck this league together.’ When I got that text, I forwarded it to the owner and to the head coach (Mike Pettine). I’m like, ‘This guy wants to be here. He wants to be part of it.’ As soon as that happened, Mr. Haslam said, ‘Pull the trigger. We’re trading up to go get this guy.'”
Although the Browns eventually made a deal with the Eagles to move up to the No. 22 spot, the team also talked to the Titans (No. 11) and Cowboys (No. 16), Loggains confirmed. The quarterbacks coach also suggested that the Browns felt they had to get ahead of the Chiefs at No. 23: “We knew they would draft him.”
As for Haslam’s role in making the deal, it certainly sounds like he was very much involved in the decision, even if he didn’t necessarily have to overrule his staff to get it done. Previous reports have suggested that the Eagles had several offers for that 22nd overall pick, and that the Browns only landed the pick after sweetening their proposal to include a third-rounder. Based on Loggains’ comments, it sounds as if Philadelphia may have ended up trading with one of those other clubs had Haslam not provided the push to get something done.