Minor NFL Transactions: 5/9/19
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: T Justin Evans, G Zack Golditch, G Will House, DT Pasoni Tasini, WR Jalen Tolliver, T Brant Weiss
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: LB Blair Brown, G Parker Ehinger, FB Dimitri Flowers, LB Donald Payne, RB David Williams
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: TE Austin Roberts
New York Giants
- Signed: K Joey Slye
- Waived: LB Ukeme Eligwe, DE Myles Humphrey, DB Michael Hunter, RB Robert Martin
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: CB Jack Tocho, K Matt McCrane
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: FB Nick Bellore, OL Marcus Martin
Jaguars Sign Jawaan Taylor, Four Other Draft Picks
The Jaguars have signed second-round offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Meanwhile, Jacksonville has also announced the following rookie signings:
- 2-35: Jawaan Taylor, T (Florida)
- 3-69: Josh Oliver, TE (San Jose State)
- 5-140: Ryquell Armstead, RB (Temple)
- 6-178: Gardner Minshew, QB (Washington State)
- 7-235: Dontavius Russell, DT (Auburn)
Taylor was a projected first-round pick, and many observers believed he’d be a fit for the Jaguars at No. 7 overall. However, the Florida product fell because of injury concerns, although Taylor has since blasted that information as “false reports.” Jacksonville traded up to acquire Taylor on Day 2, and he’ll immediately step in as Jermey Parnell‘s replacement at right tackle.
While Minshew is an interesting developmental option after succeeding in Mike Leach‘s Washington State offense, Oliver is the non-Taylor prospect with the best chance to contribute in 2019. A solid athlete, Oliver posted 709 receiving yards during his final season at San Jose State, and only needs to beat out veteran Geoff Swaim for playing time.
Jacksonville now has only two rookies left to sign: first-round edge rusher Josh Allen and third-round linebacker Quincy Williams.
Telvin Smith Will Not Play In 2019
In a rather shocking twist, Telvin Smith announced he will sit out the 2019 season. The Jaguars linebacker plans to step away from the game for the time being, he announced on Instagram (via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, on Twitter).
After the draft, GM Dave Caldwell did not commit to Smith’s place on the ’19 Jags. Smith had not reported to Jaguars voluntary workouts this offseason. But the five-year veteran said recently he did not want to play anywhere else. While that still appears to be the case, Smith’s NFL future is much cloudier.
“At this time I must take time away from the game & get my world in order,” Smith wrote. “I must give this time back to myself, my family & my health. … I know the rumors of trade talk came about, but I started my career in Jacksonville & the day I do decide to call it quits will be right here in Duval.”
This appears to have caught the Jaguars by surprise as well.
“We will not have a comment about Telvin Smith’s statement at this time,” the team said in a statement. “We need to have a conversation with Telvin to understand the situation and the circumstances.”
Smith, 28, has been a Jaguars starter for all five years of his career. He earned Pro Bowl acclaim during a 2017 season that ended with the Jags on the Super Bowl precipice. Last season, he led the team in tackles by a significant margin with 134. The Florida State alum has been one of the NFL’s best off-ball linebackers, having been the only player to record 100-plus tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery in each of the past three seasons, per Warren Sharp of SharpFootballAnalysis.com (Twitter link). Smith has nine career picks, returning three for touchdowns, and six fumble recoveries.
Although Smith appeared on the Jags’ injury report with a shoulder injury at points last year, he did not miss a game. The former second-round pick has missed just four games in five seasons. The Jags extended Smith (four years, $44MM) in October 2017. Three years remain on his contract; the Jags stand to control his rights if he returns. Smith was scheduled to count $12.56MM toward Jacksonville’s 2019 cap. Now, the team will have to call an audible at outside ‘backer.
This makes Jacksonville’s third-round selection of Quincy Williams, a player most analysts did not consider a Day 2-caliber talent, more interesting. The Murray State alum could now play a bigger part for the Jags as a rookie. Myles Jack is entering a contract year. The Jags also signed former Packers starting inside linebacker Jake Ryan.
Jaguars Release Cody Kessler
The Jaguars released quarterback Cody Kessler, according to league sources who spoke with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Kessler made four starts for the Jags last year while Blake Bortles was benched. Now, both players are gone. 
Last year, Kessler took the reins for four games, but didn’t exactly set the world on fire. All in all, he completed 64.9% of his passes (85-of-131) for 709 yards with two touchdowns against two interceptions.
This year, the Jaguars will trot out a totally revamped quarterback room with new starter Nick Foles, sixth-round rookie Gardner Minshew, 2018 sixth-round choice Tanner Lee, and Alex McGough. Of course, at least one of those backup QBs will be displaced between now and September.
In other Jags news, linebacker Telvin Smith says he wants to stay put, despite his absence from workouts and continued whispers about his future.
Execs Split On Jaguars' Josh Allen Pick
- The Jaguars‘ Josh Allen pick will protect them in the event prospective negotiations with Yannick Ngakoue escalate to an undesirable price point, offers another exec (via Sando). Ngakoue left Jaguars workouts in a likely contract-related maneuver. The defensive end became extension-eligible this year, but talks are not believed to have begun yet. The Jaguars already have Calais Campbell making $15MM per year, but given the new deals handed to Frank Clark and DeMarcus Lawrence, Ngakoue will likely aim higher than Campbell’s pact when the time comes. Allen is locked into his rookie contract until 2022. Conversely, an exec from a team in need of a pass rusher said his team did not have Allen graded particularly high. Said exec viewed the Kentucky product may end up as an off-ball linebacker at some point.
Telvin Smith Wants To Stay With Jaguars
Telvin Smith has been absent from the Jaguars’ voluntary workouts, but he insists that he wants to stay in Jacksonville. On Tuesday, the linebacker took to social media to quell any talk that he’s looking for a way out. 
“Understand this, I never left Duval,” the 2017 Pro Bowler said on Instagram (via Justin Barney of News4Jax). “I’m never leaving Duval; it’s Duval til we die. You understand me? Y’all seen trade rumors and stuff. Y’all seen me go anywhere? Exactly. Y’all seen the rumors go somewhere, but y’all ain’t seen me go no where cause I ain’t going nowhere. You understand me? I promise y’all this: Ain’t nothing about Telvin Smith leaving Duval.”
Of course, none of this guarantees that Smith will remain on the Jags’ roster. The Jaguars drafted Murray State linebacker Quincy Williams with one of their third-round picks, inviting speculation that Smith could be a trade candidate. Then, GM Dave Caldwell did little to silence that talk after the draft. When asked about Smith’s future by a reporter, he replied, “We’ll see.”
Smith, a fifth-round pick in 2014, has at least two interceptions in each of the past three seasons and three career touchdowns. If the Jaguars put him on the block, they’ll find a ripe market for his services.
Jaguars’ Yannick Ngakoue Leaves Workouts
Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue reported to the Jaguars for the start of the club’s voluntary workouts. However, he stopped showing up after a few days, according to Mike Florio of PFT. 
Ngakoue is entering a contract year, so it seems likely that his absence is contract related. The 2016 third-round pick is set to make just $2.025MM, making him criminally underpaid given his production. Over the last three years, Ngakoue has racked up 29.5 sacks, and he should be in line for a monster payday if he keeps up the good work in 2019. Presumably, Ngakoue wants to lock in those dollars today rather than playing out the season.
The going rate for quality young edge rushers continues to skyrocket. Recently, Frank Clark inked a five-year, $105MM deal with the Chiefs after coming over fro the Seahawks. Days prior to that, Demarcus Lawrence signed a similar deal to stay with the Cowboys.
Ngakoue isn’t the only notable absence from Jaguars camp. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey and linebacker Telvin Smith also haven’t been on hand for voluntary workouts.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/1/19
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: G David Bright
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB D.J. Alexander
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: T Darrell Williams
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: CB Dee Delaney, QB Luke Falk, DE Jeremiah Valoaga
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: LB Asantay Brown, G Kaleb Johnson, CB Chandon Sullivan
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: S P.J. Locke (undrafted college free agent)
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: OL Marcus Henry
Jaguars To Sign Wilson, Goode
The Jaguars added a pair of linebackers on Wednesday. The team agreed to terms with former Rams and Chiefs linebacker Ramik Wilson as well as Najee Goode, who spent last season with the Colts after five years with the Eagles. 
Wilson, 27 in August, appeared in all 16 regular season games for the Rams, notching 35 tackles, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Although he spent much of the 2016 season as a starter for the Chiefs, he’s primarily been used as a backup throughout his career, which is likely how both he and Goode will fit in with Jacksonville.
Goode, 30 in June, entered the league as a fifth-round pick of the Bucs in 2012, but only appeared in three games for them as a rookie. After that, he became a supporting linebacker and special teamer for the Eagles.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/30/19
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Marcus Baugh (AAF), TE Cole Hunt (AAF)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Claimed off waivers from 49ers: LB James Onwualu
New York Giants
- Waived: T Jylan Ware
Oakland Raiders
- Waived: RB James Butler, LB Cayson Collins, WR Rashard Davis, G/C Cameron Hunt, WR De’Mornay Pierson-El
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed off waivers from 49ers: S Godwin Igwebuike
Washington Redskins
- Waived: DB Alex Carter, G Kyle Fuller, T Darius James, WR Tre McBride, DB Harlan Miller, OL Salesi Uhatafe