Packers Sign First-Round CB Eric Stokes
Eric Stokes became the latest first-round pick to sign his rookie contract Wednesday. The Packers now have all but one member of their 2021 draft class signed.
Green Bay added Stokes with the 29th overall pick, continuing a heavy emphasis on the cornerback position in the draft. The Packers chose Jaire Alexander in the 2018 first round and have used first- or second-round picks on corners six times since 2015. Stokes will be expected to play a key role for the Packers as a rookie.
Scouts Inc. viewed the Georgia alum as a bit of a reach, ranking him 71st among this year’s prospects. The Packers were viewed by many — including the Ravens — to be eyeing Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman with their first-round pick, but Baltimore swooped in at No. 27 to select him. Stokes, however, was a first-team All-SEC pick in 2020 and a second-teamer in the powerhouse conference in 2019. He intercepted four passes last season and logged 18 throws defensed from 2018-19, seeing steady action in all three of his Bulldogs seasons. The 6-foot defender declared for the draft after his junior year.
The Packers have Alexander back, with the Louisville product positioned as a possible long-term No. 1 corner, and re-signed Kevin King this offseason. Stokes will join this mix. With this contract, only third-round wideout Amari Rodgers is unsigned from this year’s Packers draft haul.
NFL Draft Signings: 6/2/21
We’ll keep track of today’s late-round signings here:
Chicago Bears
- DT Khyiris Tonga (seventh-round, BYU)
Cincinnati Bengals
- DE Joseph Ossai (third-round, Texas) (story)
Bengals Sign Ja’Marr Chase
It’s officially official. On Wednesday, the Bengals formally signed first-round wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. They also inked third-round defensive end Joseph Ossai, completing their ten-man draft class. 
Chase opted out of the 2020 season at LSU, but that didn’t bother NFL evaluators much. In the previous year, Chase set SEC single-season records in receiving yards (1,780) and receiving touchdowns (20). That same Burrow-led offense produced three skill position players that went in the first round of the 2020 draft, including Justin Jefferson. Chase, according to many scouts, is an even better prospect.
“I thought Chase was on a different level [than Jefferson],” one scout told The Athletic earlier this year. “Watching what Jefferson did this year (with the Vikings), that just makes me say, ‘Good Lord.’ Honestly, I thought (Chase) was the best receiver in the class last year.”
All in all, Chase’s 27 career games (21 starts) saw 98 catches for 2093 yards and 23 TDs. He also notched eight career 100-yard receiving games, including three 200-yard showings.
Here’s the full rundown of the Bengals’ 2021 draft class — now signed from top to bottom:
- Round 1: No. 5 Ja’Marr Chase, WR (LSU)
- Round 2: No. 46 (from Patriots) Jackson Carman, OT (Clemson) (signed)
- Round 3: No. 69 Joseph Ossai, DE (Texas)
- Round 4: No. 111 Cameron Sample, DE (Tulane)
- Round 4: No. 122 Tyler Shelvin, DT (LSU)
- Round 4: No. 139 D’ante Smith, OT (East Carolina)
- Round 5: No. 149 Evan McPherson, K (Florida)
- Round 6: No. 190 Trey Hill, C (Georgia)
- Round 7: No. 202 (from Dolphins through Texans) Chris Evans, RB (Michigan)
- Round 7: No. 235 (from Lions through Seahawks) Wyatt Hubert, DE (Kansas State)
Rams Sign Fourth-Round CB Robert Rochell
The Rams are just about finished signing their draft class. The team announced this evening that they inked fourth-round cornerback Robert Rochell to his rookie pact.
The six-foot-two, 195-pound defensive back spent five seasons at Central Arkansas (including a redshirt freshman year), earning First team All-Southland honors in 2019. He ultimately finished his collegiate career having collected 77 tackles, 10 interceptions, and 25 passes defended. Despite being limited on only seven games in 2020, Rochell still participated in the 2021 Senior Bowl.
Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams are atop the Rams depth chart, but Rochell should have an opportunity to compete with the likes of Donte Deayon and David Long for backup reps.
With the signing, the Rams have signed all but three of their rookies:
Round 2: No. 57 Tutu Atwell, WR (Louisville) (signed)
Round 3: No. 103 Ernest Jones, LB (South Carolina)
Round 4: No. 117 Bobby Brown, DT (Texas A&M)
Round 4: No.141 Jacob Harris, WR (UCF)
Round 5: No. 174 (from Bills via Texans) Earnest Brown IV, DL (Northwestern) (signed)
Round 7: No. 233 (from Bengals via Texans) Jake Funk, RB (Maryland) (signed)
Round 7: No. 249 (from Titans via Jaguars) Ben Skowonek, WR (Notre Dame) (signed)
Round 7: No. 252 Chris Garrett, LB (Concordia-St. Paul) (signed)
Panthers Waive QB Tommy Stevens
Tommy Stevens brief stint with the Panthers has come to an end. The team announced that they’ve waived the quarterback. The team signed rookie wideout C.J. Saunders to take the open roster spot.
Stevens was in and out of the lineup during his time at Penn State and Mississippi State, but he showed promise both with his arm and on the ground. Thanks to that potential, he was drafted by the Saints in the seventh round of the 2020 draft…but the team made the bold decision of switching him to tight end. He didn’t end up making New Orleans active roster, but he did stick around their practice squad for most of the campaign.
He later caught on with the Panthers (as a quarterback), and he ended up making his NFL debut in Carolina’s Week 17 loss to the Saints. Stevens got four carries in that game for 24 rushing yards.
With the move, the Panthers are now rostering three quarterbacks: Sam Darnold, P.J. Walker, and Will Grier.
Saunders was a former walk-on cornerback at Ohio State, but he ended up transforming into one of the team’s most reliable receivers. He had 27 receptions in two seasons at Ohio State, and he was named a captain in 2019 before succumbing to an injury. He spent rookie minicamp with the Falcons organization.
Ravens Sign DL Jovan Swann
After losing one defensive lineman to injury last week, the Ravens are adding another. The team announced today that they’ve signed defensive lineman Jovan Swann. The team also waived/injured defensive tackle Xavier Kelly and wide receiver Donte Sylencieux.
Swann had a standout career at Stanford, and he earned a handful of Pac-12 All-Academic nods during his stint with the Cardinal. He spent the 2020 campaign at Indiana, finishing the season with three QB hits. During his collegiate career, the lineman compiled 8.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss.
Swann ultimately went undrafted during April’s draft, and he’s already bounced around the NFL a bit. He spent rookie camp with the Steelers before getting a workout with the Texans.
Kelly, a fellow undrafted rookie, suffered a season-ending Achilles injury last week, opening a spot for Swann. The team may not be finished adding, however; we learned earlier today that the team worked out defensive tackle Darius Kilgo.
Sylencieux joined the Ravens earlier this offseason, reuniting him with high school teammate Lamar Jackson.
49ers Cut Josh Johnson
The 49ers have released quarterback Josh Johnson (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). In a related move, the Niners have added wide receiver Andy Jones to their 90-man offseason roster.
Johnson, who just turned 35, hooked on with the 49ers last November. Previous to that, he was last seen with the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL. He could have been on an NFL roster sooner — the Lions offered him a contract, but the XFL stepped in and blocked it.
Over the years, Johnson has signed deals with 13 different teams. That includes multiple stints with the 49ers in 2012, 2014, and 2020. It remains to be seen whether Johnson will pursue another season in the league, but there’s always a market for experienced QBs like him.
Of course, Johnson’s odds of making the final cut weren’t all that great anyway. The 49ers have Jimmy Garoppolo installed as their starter with first-round pick Trey Lance waiting in the wings. That leaves Nick Mullens and Josh Rosen to compete for one — or perhaps zero — QB spots on the 53-man roster.
Texans Sign Rex Burkhead
The Texans have signed Rex Burkhead, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. The ex-Patriots running back will join fellow newcomers Mark Ingram and Phillip Lindsay in the Texans’ new-look group.
Burkhead, 30, ended the season on IR, thanks to a November ACL tear. Before that, he was enjoying another solid season as the Pats’ change-of-pace back. Through ten games, the 30-year-old collected 274 yards and three touchdowns on 67 carries. He also had 25 receptions for 192 yards and three scores.
The Texans now count seven RBs on their 90-man offseason roster. Burkhead works to carve out a role, he’ll have plenty of familiar faces around. Texans GM and longtime Patriots exec Nick Caserio has imported lots of players from New England, including offensive tackle Marcus Cannon, wide receiver Donte Moncrief, and defensive end Derek Rivers.
David Johnson and Ingram still project to serve as the lead backs, with support from Lindsay. Assuming all three stick, there’s probably only one more RB spot up for grabs in Houston.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/1/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: P Tyler Newsome
New York Jets
- Waived: DL Sharif Finch
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived/Injured: TE Daniel Helm
Lions Sign Brian Price
The Lions have signed Brian Price, per a club announcement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it’s likely a one-year deal for the veteran defensive lineman. 
Price went undrafted in 2016, largely because of red flags — including the time he threw an official to the ground. When he didn’t hear his name called, the University of Texas-San Antonio joined up with the Packers’ practice squad. They were pretty high on his ability, because midway through the year they nearly quadrupled his salary to prevent him from getting poached.
Since then, Price has made the rounds, spending time with the Cowboys, Raiders, Browns, Colts, and Jaguars before circling back to the Packers late last year. All in all, Price has 24 career appearances to his credit. Now, he’ll look to make the cut in Detroit, where he could take the place of Joel Heath following his season-ending ACL tear.