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Minor NFL Transactions: 5/8/23

May 8th, 2023 at 6:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: WR Tyler Adams, WR Kody Case, T Matthew Vanderslice, DT Jamal Woods
  • Waived: WR Cody Chrest, CB Tyler Richardson, RB Titus Swen, WR Braxton Westfield

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Hatcher and Moultrie join cornerback William Hooper in landing Packers deals after the team’s rookie minicamp. Despite the Packers cutting Coco, Hatcher still has competition to become Green Bay’s long snapper. Matt Orzech, who spent the past two years as the Rams’ deep snapper, remains the favorite for the Packer gig after receiving a $300K signing bonus this offseason, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com tweets. Orzech had been on Green Bay’s radar for years; the team tried to claim him off waivers in 2021.

Colts Announce 15-Man UDFA Class

May 5th, 2023 at 8:16pm CST by Ely Allen

The Colts added some important pieces in their 12-man 2023 draft class last weekend and added more today with the announcement of 15 undrafted free agent rookie signings. Here are the undrafted names joining a rather large rookie contingent:

Indianapolis invested a strong $100,000 guaranteed amount to lure Mutin out of Houston, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Mutin concluded his five-year career with the Cougars leading the team in total tackles in both of the last two years. The physical linebacker’s smaller stature (6-0, 230 pounds) didn’t stop him from making big plays at the college level as he concluded his time in Texas with 18.0 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, four passes defensed, three sacks, and an interception.

Ekiyor was a three-year starter with the Crimson Tide as a guard. He was coming off of an injury to start his redshirt senior season but still managed to start 12 of Alabama’s 13 games. A physical presence on the interior line, Ekiyor led a talented offensive line with 31 knockdown blocks.

The Colts added a few pass catchers to a wide receiving corps rife with opportunities. King adds some legitimate size at 6-foot-4. Chrest was an All-WAC second-team selection in each of the last two years after tallying 1,252 receiving yards and seven touchdowns over those two seasons. Scott is an intriguing weapon who was as much a threat rushing the ball for the Black Bears in 2022 (371 yards, four touchdowns) as he was catching the ball (434 yards and a touchdown).

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/5/23

May 5th, 2023 at 6:55pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are a few more mid- to late-round draft picks who signed their four-year rookie contracts today:

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

  • CB Darius Rush (fifth round, South Carolina)
  • S Daniel Scott (fifth round, California)
  • DE Titus Leo (sixth round, Wagner)
  • CB Jaylon Jones (seventh round, Texas A&M)
  • T Jake Witt (seventh round, Northern Michigan)

New York Giants

New York Jets

Latest On Colts’ Anthony Richardson Selection

May 5th, 2023 at 5:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Colts delivered on their long-stated intention of drafting a quarterback in the first round of last week’s draft, selecting Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 pick. That marked the end of a lengthy evaluation process, but it did not represent a surprise within the organization when it happened.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard told NBC Sports’ Peter King that the team’s intention was to draft Richardson dating back roughly one month. The Florida product was the largest X-factor in the 2023 class, having played far less than most other passers but owning the most intriguing skillset given his physical attributes and rushing ability.

While he thus represented a risk, Richardson was a key target for the Colts in their latest attempt to end their search for a long-term quarterback. Their post-Andrew Luck endeavors resulted in an unsuccessful string of veterans being brought in, pointing the team to adding a young passer this offseason. Despite his relative lack of experience and signficant inconsistencies in his lone season as a starter, Richardson could see playing time as a rookie at the NFL level.

“I would rather take the risk, the risk that he might fail, than pass on him and see him become a star somewhere else,” Ballard said. “We’re taking a guy not only for what he can do today but for what he can become tomorrow.” Echoing that sentiment in a draft documentary, via the team, Ballard added, “I didn’t want to look up and watch him be a superstar somewhere else. If he’s gonna be a superstar, he’s gonna be a superstar for the Colts” (video link).

There was not initially a consensus in the Colts’ front office regarding Richardson. In a breakdown of the team’s evaluation process, ESPN’s Stephen Holder notes that assistant GM Ed Dodds was “deeply skeptical” of Richardson at first, given the concerns regarding experience and accuracy. He, too, grew into the notion of selecting Richardson fourth overall, however, a point where two quarterbacks were expected to be off the board.

That was indeed the case last Thursday, with the Panthers and Texans selecting Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, respectively. Indianapolis considered trading up to No. 3, per Holder, but the team chose against doing so. The Cardinals ultimately moved out of that slot to allow the Texans to draft Will Anderson, leaving Richardson available for the Colts as they had hoped and planned.

The latter will face considerable scrutiny and expectations upon his NFL debut, but the Colts remain firmly committed to him as their long-term solution under center. With Gardner Minshew representing his top competition for the starting job (especially in the absence of Nick Foles), Richardson could see considerable playing time in 2023 and for many years beyond that.

Colts Release QB Nick Foles

May 5th, 2023 at 2:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Colts’ post-draft roster moves has led to an expected departure under center. The team announced on Friday that quarterback Nick Foles has been released.

The 34-year-old joined the Colts last season on a two-year deal to insulate fellow veteran Matt Ryan. Foles was long a target of then-head coach Frank Reich, given their shared time in Philadelphia. The former was expected to hold the QB2 position, but nothing went according to plan in Indianapolis in 2022.

Foles was relegated to third-stringer midway through the year when Sam Ehlinger was given a look as the backup, and, eventually, starter. With Ryan facing injury and performance issues, however, the depth chart at the position remained in flux through the team’s experiment with interim head coach Jeff Saturday to close out the campaign. Foles wound up starting two games with the Colts, losing both of them while throwing four interceptions and no touchdown passes.

Those figures helped lead to the expectation that Foles would be let go this offseason, as Ryan was. This move will result in a dead cap charge of $1.5MM while yielding $2.1MM in savings. In general, it will further the changes made at the position, with Gardner Minshew being signed in a similar Eagles-to-Colts transaction during free agency. The latter represents a familiar option for new head coach Shane Steichen as he looks to guide Indianapolis to a needed step forward on offense.

At some point, that process will of course involve No. 4 pick Anthony Richardson. The Florida alum was drafted with a number of question marks given his inconsistencies and limited starting experience in college, but he has substantial upside given his physical traits. It came out not long after the draft’s opening round that Richardson could very well see playing time as a rookie.

Regardless of when (if at all) Richardson sees the field, the presence of he and Minshew atop the depth chart left Foles on the outside looking in. The Super Bowl LII MVP will now look for another new home, having spent time with the Rams, Chiefs, Jaguars and Bears between his first Eagles stint and this one-and-done season with the Colts. A number of teams have already addressed their quarterback depth with either veterans or rookies, so Foles may have to wait deep into the summer to find his next opportunity. Indianapolis, meanwhile, will officially move forward with their two new signal-callers in 2023.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/4/23

May 4th, 2023 at 6:32pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Minnesota Vikings

  • Claimed off waivers (from Falcons): CB John Reid

Hart got into 39 games for the Seahawks over the past three years. The majority of his work came on special teams, but he did manage to haul in 11 receptions during his limited snaps on offense. More notably, Hart had 17 special teams tackles over the past two years, including 11 last season.

Meanwhile, the Vikings made a move on a Falcons castoff. Reid got into 24 games for the Texans and Seahawks between 2020 and 2021, but he bounced around the league a bit in 2022. He appeared in three games (one start) with the Titans before catching on with Atlanta’s practice squad late in the season.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/4/23

May 4th, 2023 at 6:19pm CST by Ben Levine

After the Panthers got the ball rolling yesterday, a number of teams started signing draft picks to their rookie contracts today. We’ve compiled all of the four-year, later-round signings below:

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/2/23

May 2nd, 2023 at 4:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

New Orleans Saints

The Colts added Evans, a former Titans third-round pick, earlier this offseason. The team still has Zack Moss and Deon Jackson on its roster behind Jonathan Taylor; Indianapolis also drafted Evan Hull in the fifth round. Gillespie, who was briefly with the Titans last summer, is only a Colts agreement away from the AFC South cycle.

Luton spent last season with the Saints, residing both on their practice squad and active roster. A former sixth-round pick, the Oregon State product’s last game action came with the Jaguars in 2020. Gore gained 256 rushing yards for the Chiefs in 2021; he joined Luton on the Saints’ P-squad for the second half of last season. The Saints have since signed Jamaal Williams and used a third-round pick on TCU’s Kendre Miller. Veteran special-teamer Dwayne Washington and Eno Benjamin also reside on New Orleans’ roster.

Flowers, a 6-foot-2 receiver out of Montana, joins the team’s UDFA class. The Division I-FCS product holds the Big Sky conference record for kick-return yards, averaging 28.9 per return. Flowers finished his college career with an eye-popping seven kick-return touchdowns. The seven TDs match current Saint wideout Rashid Shaheed‘s FCS record.

2023 NFL Draft Results: Team By Team

April 29th, 2023 at 10:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the 2023 NFL Draft gets underway, we will keep track of each team’s haul here:

Arizona Cardinals

Round 1, No. 6 (from Rams through Lions): Paris Johnson, OT (Ohio State) (signed)
Round 2, No. 41 (from Titans): BJ Ojulari, DE (LSU) (signed)
Round 3, No. 72 (from Titans): Garrett Williams, CB (Syracuse) (signed)
Round 3, No. 94 (from Eagles): Michael Wilson, WR (Stanford) (signed)
Round 4, No. 122 (from Dolphins through Chiefs and Lions): Jon Gaines II, G (UCLA) (signed)
Round 5, No. 139 (from Broncos through Lions): Clayton Tune, QB (Houston) (signed)
Round 5, No. 168 (from Cardinals through Lions): Owen Pappoe, LB (Auburn) (signed)
Round 5, No. 180: Kei’Trel Clark, CB (Louisville) (signed)
Round 6, No. 213: Dante Stills, DT (West Virginia) (signed)

Atlanta Falcons

Round 1, No. 8: Bijan Robinson, RB (Texas) (signed)
Round 2, No. 38 (from Colts): Matthew Bergeron, T (Syracuse) (signed)
Round 3, No. 75: Zach Harrison, DE (Ohio State) (signed)
Round 4, No. 113: Clark Phillips III, CB (Utah) (signed)
Round 7, No. 224 (from Raiders): DeMarcco Hellams, S (Alabama) (signed)
Round 7, No. 225: Jovaughn Gwyn, G (South Carolina) (signed)

Baltimore Ravens

Round 1, No. 22: Zay Flowers, WR (Boston College) (signed)
Round 3, No. 86: Trenton Simpson, LB (Clemson) (signed)
Round 4, No. 124: Tavius Robinson, LB (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 5, No. 157: Kyu Blu Kelly, CB (Stanford) (signed)
Round 6, No. 199: Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, OT (Oregon) (signed)
Round 7, No. 229 (from Browns): Andrew Vorhees, G (USC) (signed)

Buffalo Bills

Round 1, No. 25 (from Giants through Jaguars): Dalton Kincaid, TE (Utah) (signed)
Round 2, No. 59: O’Cyrus Torrence, G (Florida) (signed)
Round 3, No, 91: Dorian Williams, LB (Tulane) (signed)
Round 5, No. 150 (from Commanders): Justin Shorter, WR (Florida) (signed)
Round 7, No. 230 (from Buccaneers through Jets, Texans, Eagles and Bills): Nick Broeker, G (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 7, No. 252 (from Buccaneers through Rams): Alex Austin, CB (Oregon State) (signed)

Carolina Panthers

Round 1, No. 1 (from Bears): Bryce Young, QB (Alabama) (signed)
Round 2, No. 39: Jonathan Mingo, WR (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 3, No. 80 (from Steelers): D.J. Johnson, DE (Oregon) (signed)
Round 4, No. 114: Chandler Zavala, G (North Carolina State) (signed)
Round 5, No. 145: Jammie Robinson, S (Florida State) (signed)

Chicago Bears

Round 1, No. 10 (from Saints through Eagles): Darnell Wright, OT (Tennessee) (signed)
Round 2, No. 53 (from Ravens): Gervon Dexter, DT (Florida) (signed)
Round 2, No. 56 (from Jaguars): Tyrique Stevenson, CB (Miami) (signed)
Round 3, No. 64: Zacch Pickens, DT (South Carolina) (signed)
Round 4, No. 115 (from Saints): Roschon Johnson, RB (Texas) (signed)
Round 4, No. 133 (from Eagles): Tyler Scott, WR (Cincinnati) (signed)
Round 5, No. 148 (from Patriots through Ravens): Noah Sewell, LB (Oregon) (signed)
Round 5, No. 165 (from Saints through Eagles): Terell Smith, CB (Minnesota) (signed)
Round 7, No. 218: Travis Bell, DT (Kennesaw State) (signed)
Round 7, No. 258: Kendall Williamson, S (Stanford) (signed)

Cincinnati Bengals

Round 1, No. 28: Myles Murphy, DE (Clemson) (signed)
Round 2, No. 60: DJ Turner, CB (Michigan) (signed)
Round 3, No. 95 (from Chiefs): Jordan Battle, S (Alabama) (signed)
Round 4, No. 131: Charlie Jones, WR (Purdue) (signed)
Round 5, No. 163: Chase Brown, RB (Illinois) (signed)
Round 6, No. 206: Andrei Iosivas, WR (Princeton) (signed)
Round 6, No. 217 (from Chiefs): Brad Robbins, P (Michigan) (signed)
Round 7, No. 246: DJ Ivey, CB (Miami) (signed)

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