Minor NFL Transactions: 4/20/18
Here are Friday’s minor moves.
Carolina Panthers
- Suspended for four games (PEDs): TE Kent Taylor
Chicago Bears
- Waived WR Mekale McKay
- Signed: DE Nicholas Williams
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: CB Reggie Porter
- Waived: S Corey White
WR Tyler Gaffney Returns To Baseball
You won’t be seeing Tyler Gaffney on the pages of Pro Football Rumors, but you may find him on MLB Trade Rumors in time. The former Panthers, Patriots, and Jaguars wide receiver is going back to baseball, as MLB.com’s Adam Berry writes. 
“My dream has been the big leagues my whole life,” Gaffney said. “I think I’ve been tasting that every time I was hurt. You have time to think about things like that. So now I’m here, putting in my work. Now I’m here, five years later. I think the last couple years took their toll on my body. The heart wanted it. The body didn’t. I’m finally able to come back to baseball, the sport I love.”
Gaffney was drafted by the Pirates in 2012 and played in their minor league system for a summer before returning to Stanford to play football. He is now returning to the Pirates to pursue his MLB dreams, starting with the Bradenton Pirates of the Florida State League.
Gaffney held promise as a sixth-round pick with the Panthers, but injuries prevented him from doing much on the field. Although he never recorded an official statistic, he does own two Super Bowl rings thanks to his time with the Pats.
What's Hurting Tre Boston's Market?
Safety Tre Boston remains unsigned and Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer wonders if the Chargers free agent’s history of social activism is hampering his market. Much has been written about Eric Reid‘s ongoing unemployment, but Boston was fairly outspoken following the shooting death of Keith Lamont Scott by a Charlotte police officer two years ago while with the Panthers. For his part, Boston isn’t sure that his public stance in 2016 is working against him.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/17/18
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DB Tyson Graham, DT Garrison Smith, DT Justin Zimmer
Baltimore Ravens
- Re-signed: WR Quincy Adeboyejo, RB Alex Collins, CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste, TE Vince Mayle, LB Patrick Onwuasor, OL Maurquice Shakir, OL Matt Skura (ERFA)
Buffalo Bills
- Re-signed: TE Nick O’Leary, CB Lafayette Pitts, TE Logan Thomas, DE Eddie Yarbrough (ERFA)
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: WR Damiere Byrd, OL Tyler Larsen, P Michael Palardy (ERFA)
Chicago Bears
- Signed original round RFA tender: CB Bryce Callahan
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: WR Geronimo Allison, CB Donatello Brown, QB Joe Callahan, WR Michael Clark; FB Joe Kerridge, G Justin McCray, T Adam Pankey, G Lucas Patrick, S Jermaine Whitehead (ERFA)
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-signed: RB Malcolm Brown, K Sam Ficken, CB Troy Hill (ERFA)
New York Jets
- Signed original-round RFA tender: S Rontez Miles, TE Neal Sterling
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-signed: LB Paul Dawson
- Re-signed: C Joey Hunt, DE Branden Jackson, LS Tyler Ott (ERFA)
Panthers’ Greg Olsen Seeking New Contract
For the second offseason in a row, Panthers tight end Greg Olsen is looking for a new contract. In an interview with Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, Olsen indicated that he wants a contract that will take him beyond the 2018 season. 
“My preference would be to know my future here in Carolina past this year, if I’m being honest. Whether or not that happens, we’ll see,” Olsen said. “But that would be the ideal situation and then that would answer a lot of these unknown questions.”
Last year, made waves when he auditioned to become an analyst for ESPN’s Monday Night Football. Panthers officials believed that Olsen was looking into the position for something down the road, but that timeline could conceivably be accelerated if Olsen doesn’t get the revised contract he wants.
“The reality of it is there’s not a lot of those jobs out there and when they ask you to come in and go through that audition process and go through those motions, it’s a great opportunity,” Olsen said. “My mind and my prep has always been on playing. But the reality is those jobs do get your attention a little bit and you’ve at least got to look behind the curtain.”
Last year, Olsen pushed for an extension that would give him a raise over the remainder of his three-year, $22.5MM deal. At one point, he even intimated that he would consider staying home during training camp. Ultimately, he showed up for work and got some incentives added to his deal that could have given him an additional $2MM in 2018. Unfortunately, a broken foot prevented the tight end from reaching those bonuses.
For now, Olsen is under contract for one more year with a cap hit of $9.75MM.
Panthers Claim QB Taylor Heinicke
The Panthers picked up quarterback Taylor Heinicke off waivers. The QB was cut by the Texans on Friday. 
Heinicke, 25, threw his only NFL pass to date in a 34-6 loss to the Steelers last year. The Old Dominion product hasn’t made much noise over the last three years with the Vikings, Patriots, or Texans, but he’ll look to stick on the Panthers’ roster as a backup to Cam Newton.
For now, Newton, Garrett Gilbert, and Heinicke are the only three QBs on Carolina’s roster. At the owner’s meetings, coach Ron Rivera indicated that veteran Derek Anderson could still be re-signed to serve as Newton’s primary backup.
“We’re looking for a guy that can eventually be the No. 2 guy for a long time,” Rivera said “We’re looking for that next guy, not necessarily to replace Derek but to come in and be ready to eventually replace him.”
NFL Draft Rumors: Patriots, Key, 49ers
After losing Nate Solder in free agency, the Patriots are on the lookout for offensive tackle help. With that in mind, the Patriots hosted Texas tackle Connor Williams on a visit on Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Thanks to the Brandin Cooks trade earlier this offseason, the Pats are armed with two picks late in the first round. Williams could be available when the Pats are called to the podium at No. 23, though the league-wide need for tackles could result in the 6’6″ lineman going higher.
Here’s the latest batch of NFL draft news:
- LSU outside linebacker/defensive end Arden Key worked out for the 49ers on Wednesday and will move on to the Raiders on Thursday, Rapoport tweets.
- South Dakota State tight end Dallas Goedert, who could be the first tight end to come off of the board, visited the Dolphins on Wednesday, Rapoport tweets. Miami is reportedly high on him, but he has also met with the Seahawks, Chargers, and Lions, according to Rapoport. As previously reported, the Vikings met with Goedert last week.
- Cornerback Isaiah Oliver has had workouts/visits with the Eagles, Falcons, Bears, Texans, 49ers, Cardinals, Panthers, Patriots, Saints, Broncos, and Cowboys, sources tell Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Miller personally believes that he would be a great fit for Arizona. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah has Oliver ranked as the 36th best prospect in this year’s draft and it would be no surprise to see him go in the first round.
- Georgia running back Nick Chubb will visit with the Buccaneers on Wednesday, according to Josh Norris of NBC Sports (on Twitter). Chubb has been lauded for his power and ability to run on the inside and figures to be a second round pick.
- The Lions hosted Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson for a visit on Tuesday, Rapoport tweets. Johnson was recently bumped from Jeremiah’s top 50 but should still garner consideration in the second round.
Panthers To Host Moore, Kirk
- Adding new weapons for quarterback Cam Newton was one of the Panthers‘ top offseason goals, and the club doesn’t figure to stop doing so even after acquiring Torrey Smith and signing Jarius Wright. Carolina will be taking a look at multiple wideout prospects in the coming days, as D.J. Moore (Maryland) and Christian Kirk (Texas A&M) are each scheduled to meet with the Panthers, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Moore and Kirk aren’t the only pass-catchers Carolina is eyeing, as reports earlier today indicated that Alabama’s Calvin Ridley and Memphis’ Anthony Miller will also visit the Panthers.
Draft Rumors: Guice, Key, Ridley, Panthers
LSU running back Derrius Guice has changed representation, going from the firm that represents rap star Kendrick Lamar to one headed up by Lil Wayne, as Darren Heitner of Forbes Magazine writes. Guice is the latest draft prospect to join Young Money APAA Sports, which also represents Texas linebacker Malik Jefferson. Thanks to a buyout of another firm late last year, the agency also has NFL players Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon, Lane Johnson, Jason McCourty and Seth Roberts in its stable.
Here’s more NFL Draft news:
- Speaking of LSU, pass rusher Arden Key will visit with the Titans on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. At No. 25 overall, the Titans could be in range for the athletic prospect.
- Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley will visit with the Panthers on Wednesday after the team completes it’s trip to Washington D.C., according to Rapoport. Ridley recently met with the Cowboys and is widely projected to be a first round pick.
- Iowa cornerback Josh Jackson has Top 30 visits with the Bills, Titans, and Buccaneers this week, Rapoport tweets.
- Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick is visiting the 49ers this week, per Rapoport.
- Memphis wide receiver Anthony Miller met with the Panthers on Monday, according to Rapoport.
- Florida defensive tackle Taven Bryan, projected as a first-round pick, will have a dozen official visits to team facilities along with six individual workouts on campus, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. The Buccaneers hosted him on a visit last week, so he could stay in the Sunshine State. Bryan is the 24th best prospect in the draft, according to NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah.
- The Lions have more pressing needs at running back, pass rusher, and on the interior offensive line, but they could consider safeties early in the draft. The Lions hosted Stanford’s Justin Reid on a top-30 visit last week, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press hears.
David Tepper Still In Mix To Buy Panthers
A New York Times report indicated David Tepper was out of the mix to purchase the Panthers, but Tepper has insisted that’s not the case. The hedge-fund billionaire and part-owner of the Steelers said he still is in the mix.
“I have to tell you, for me, I like the people down there. They remind me of my original hometown, Pittsburgh. The only thing I’m telling you is I haven’t dropped out,” Tepper said, via Katherine Peralta and Rick Rothacker of the Charlotte Observer. “We’ll see what tomorrow brings.”
Tepper remaining in the mix leaves he, Ben Navarro and Alan Kestenbaum vying to succeed Jerry Richardson as the Panthers’ owner. However, David Newton of ESPN.com reports an unnamed fourth candidate is still in the running. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com also tweets Tepper has called several people to confirm he’s still interested.
This is significant since Tepper is believed to be the candidate most preferred by the NFL’s current ownership base. Navarro is believed to have offered a would-be-record $2.6 billion, and the winning bid could be announced later this month. All three of the remaining candidates have visited Panthers headquarters.