WFT Signs TE Deon Yelder, CB Linden Stephens
The Washington Football Team added a pair of veterans today. The team announced this evening that they’ve signed tight end Deon Yelder and cornerback Linden Stephens.
Yelder is the notable name in this grouping, as the tight end appeared in 26 games for the Chiefs over the past three seasons. This included a 2020 campaign where he set career-highs across the board, including games played (14), receptions (seven), receiving yards (36), and offensive snaps (194). He also has four playoff games (including three in 2019) and a Super Bowl ring on his resume.
Logan Thomas sits atop the depth chart in Washington, meaning Yelder will end up battling with the likes of Temarrick Hemingway, John Bates, Marcus Baugh, Tyrone Swoopes, and Sammis Reyes for backup reps.
Stephens has bounced around the NFL since going undrafted out of Cincinnati in 2018, spending time with the Saints, Rams, Broncos, Seahawks, Dolphins, and Seahawks (second stint). He saw time in 13 games for Seattle last season, appearing mostly on special teams.
Lions To Waive RB Kerryon Johnson
Kerryon Johnson‘s stint with the Lions has come to an end. Detroit is waiving the running back, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
The 2018 second-round pick was a major part of the Lions offense as a rookie, compiling 854 yards from scrimmage and four scores. He saw a similar workload in 2019 before succumbing to a knee injury after only eight games (seven starts).
When Johnson returned from injury in 2020, he was no longer atop the depth chart. The team seemed to priortize 2020 second-round running back D’Andre Swift over Johnson, with the third-year pro also having to battle Adrian Peterson for snaps. Ultimately, Johnson finished this past season with only 368 yards from scrimmage in 16 games, although he did earn praise for his pass-blocking ability.
While Peterson won’t be back next season, the team did add former Packers running back Jamaal Williams on a two-year deal. The team also added Jermar Jefferson in the seventh round of the draft, meaning Johnson wasn’t even guaranteed a spot as a third running back.
Now, the 23-year-old Johnson will hit the waiver wire, and there’s a solid chance he’s scooped up by another squad. Johnson still has a year left on his rookie contract, with his contract counting $2MM against the cap. The Lions save about $1.3MM with this move.
Buccaneers To Re-Sign QB Blaine Gabbert
Recently, the Buccaneers became the first defending champ since 1993 to bring back all 22 starters for the following season. The front office is also making an effort to retain their backups. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports (via Twitter) that Tampa Bay is re-signing backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert. It’s a one-year deal worth $2.5MM for the veteran.
While the Buccaneers re-signed third-stringer Ryan Griffin and drafted Kyle Trask in the second round, the organization has made it clear that they intended to re-sign Gabbert. Bruce Arians explicitly said that he wanted to keep the veteran around, while GM Jason Licht went as far to insinuate that Gabbert could be an eventual successor to Tom Brady.
Gabbert has spent the past two seasons in Tampa, throwing for 143 yards and two scores (all in 2020). The former first-rounder hasn’t been a full-time starter since back in 2012, and he’s started only 21 games since the 2015 season. Still, Gabbert has familiarity with the system (he played for Arians in Arizona) and his teammates, so he’s a natural fit to back up Brady for at least another season.
With teams rarely carrying four active-roster quarterbacks, Gabbert re-signing would point Griffin to either the practice squad or another team, while Trask would settle into a developmental third-stringer role.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/5/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: CB Kemon Hall, DE Ladarius Hamilton, DT Walter Palmore, C Adam Redmond
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Malik Jefferson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Chris Finke
New York Jets
- Claimed (from 49ers): WR Matt Cole
Seattle Seahawks
- Claimed (from Jaguars): LB Nate Evans
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S Raven Greene, LB Joseph Jones
Vikings Bring In 11 UDFAs
The Vikings have filled out their initial undrafted free agent class, according to a team announcement. Here are the 11 rookies the Vikings will bring in to join their 11-man draft class:
- Turner Bernard, LS (San Diego State)
- Tuf Borland, LB (Ohio State)
- Christian Elliss, LB (Idaho)
- Zeandae Johnson, DT (Cal)
- Myron Mitchell, WR (UAB)
- Riley Patterson, K (Memphis)
- Whop Philyor, WR (Indiana)
- Blake Proehl, WR (East Carolina)
- A.J. Rose, RB (Kentucky)
- Jordan Scott, NT (Oregon)
- Zach Von Rosenberg, P (LSU) (story)
The Vikings are guaranteeing $100K of Proehl’s base salary and adding a $15K signing bonus, veteran NFL reporter Aaron Wilson tweets. This will mark another second-generation NFL wideout for the Vikes, who already employ Don Beebe‘s son, Chad. Blake Proehl’s father, Ricky Proehl, played 17 NFL seasons. Christian Elliss joins Proehl in being the son of an NFLer; his father, Luther Elliss, played 10 seasons as a defensive tackle (nine with the Lions).
Patterson will join Greg Joseph as the Vikings’ kickers. Minnesota added Joseph in February, but he has not kicked in a regular-season game since 2019. He and Patterson, who kicked in 51 games for the Tigers, figure to compete for the job in camp. Patterson missed seven field goals as a senior but made 23 of 25 kicks in 2019. They will vie to succeed Dan Bailey, who struggled last season.
Philyor proving to be an NFL-caliber receiver could potentially land him an endorsement deal, at least at Minneapolis-area Burger Kings, with his nickname being geared around his affinity for Whoppers as a boy. At Indiana, he posted a 1,002-yard receiving season as a junior in 2019.
Lions To Sign Darren Fells
The Lions have agreed to a deal with Darren Fells, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets. It’s a reunion for Fells, who spent the 2017 season in Detroit. 
Last time with the Lions, Fells notched 17 catches for 177 yards and three touchdowns. Back then, he was known solely for his blocking ability. But, in 2019, he made waves with 34 catches for 341 yards and seven touchdowns. His second season with the Texans wasn’t as flashy. In 2020, Fells notched 21 catches for 312 yards and four TDs. Still, that makes eleven scores in two years and the Lions are more interested in Fells for his blocking ability.
Fells will help replace TE Josh Hill, who signed with the Lions this year only to retire earlier this week. Hill, 31, was set to play on a one-year, $1.2MM deal.
Chiefs To Sign S Will Parks
The Chiefs have agreed to sign safety Will Parks (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). Parks, a free agent for the second straight year, also received interest from the Vikings and Lions.
Instead of the NFC North, he’ll join up with one of the AFC’s strongest teams. The five-year veteran agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.13MM, according to Schefter (on Twitter).
Despite entering the league as a seventh-round pick, Parks has seen considerable playing time as a pro. He spent most of his career with the Broncos before moving on to the Eagles in 2020. Injuries led to Parks’ release in December, bringing him back to the Broncos. Parks missed six games last year, but previous to that, he was only scratched for two.
Now on the verge of his 27th birthday (in July), the versatile vet figures to serve as a supporting safety in Kansas City — perhaps with some time as a sub-package linebacker. Parks played that role at points in Denver and will now attempt to carve out a spot with the Broncos’ top rivals.
Cowboys Cut Antwaun Woods, Saivion Smith
The Cowboys are waiving starting defensive tackle Antwaun Woods (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). Woods was retained as a restricted free agent, but the Cowboys will shed his salary instead after drafting multiple defensive linemen. In addition, the Cowboys have also cut cornerback Saivion Smith, according to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter).
Woods has started 32 of his 39 games for Dallas over the past three years, compiling 80 tackles, four tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a pair of fumble recoveries. By cutting the former UDFA, the Cowboys will save $2.133MM on the books for 2021.
The veteran was a favorite of Rod Marinelli, but defensive coordinator Dan Quinn wants to move the D-Line in a new direction. Now, the interior will be bolstered by UCLA fourth-rounder Osa Odighizuwa and Kentucky sixth-rounder Quinton Bohanna.
Smith, meanwhile, spent the bulk of last year on the practice squad. He’s been pushed out by the arrival of rookies Kelvin Joseph and Nahshon Wright.
Jets Sign Rookie Jamien Sherwood
The first NFL Draft signing of 2021 is on the board. On Wednesday, the Jets inked fifth-round safety Jamien Sherwood (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter).
Sherwood, an Auburn product, was the combo breaker on the Jets’ early run of offensive players. Interestingly, the Jets listed him as a linebacker on their press released after he was taken No. 146 overall. The 6’2″, 220 pound defensive back may be moved to edge rusher, something that he told the Jets he’d be willing to do during the draft process.
“I take pride in that,” Sherwood said about his ability to cover the middle of the field (via the team website). “Being a safety, you’re the last line of defense, so that’s just stopping touchdowns. You do everything you can for your team. Whenever I get my chance to make a tackle, I make it.”
In his final year on campus, Sherwood notched 75 tackles, three tackles for loss, and one sack. With Sherwood under contract, we’ve got 258 stragglers left to go. Most of those signings will be listed in our daily roundups, with dedicated posts for early round selections.
Vikings Sign Shane Zylstra
The Vikings have signed Shane Zylstra, according to his agent, Jaymeson Moten (via Twitter). Zylstra, who starred as a wide receiver at Minnesota State, will convert to tight end, as Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets.
If the last name sounds familiar, it’s because Zylstra’s older brother, Brandon Zylstra, signed with the Vikings in 2018 after a terrific couple of years in the Canadian Football League. He has been with the Panthers in each of the past two seasons, and while the CFL’s 2017 receiving yards leader has just 12 catches in his NFL career, he has served as a significant special teams contributor for both Minnesota and Carolina.
The younger Zylstra set Minnesota State records with 81 receptions for 1,676 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2019 — he was basically the D-II version of Ja’Marr Chase — but went undrafted last year. He will hope to follow in the footsteps of fellow Minnesota State alumnus and new teammate Adam Thielen.
Zylstra has put on 15 pounds of muscle for his position switch and is now up to 230 pounds, per Tomasson (Twitter link). The Vikings’ TE depth chart is currently topped by Irv Smith Jr., but beyond that, the club is rostering unproven talents Tyler Conklin, Brandon Dillon, and fifth-round rookie Zach Davidson. So Zylstra has a shot to make the team with a strong summer.
Tomasson notes that Zylstra also attracted interest from the Colts and 49ers (Twitter link).