Jaguars Claim C Demetrius Rhaney
The Jaguars have claimed center Demetrius Rhaney off waivers from the Rams, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (Twitter link). In a corresponding move, Jacksonville has waived offensive lineman Parker Collins.
Rhaney, who turns 25 this week, gives the Jaguars yet another interior offensive line option who will compete for a reserve role throughout the summer. Jacksonville has already targeted guard/center this offseason, spending a second-round pick on Cam Robinson — who figures to slide to guard now that veteran left tackle Branden Albert has reported to Jaguars camp — and signing free agent Earl Watford. With Robinson, center Brandon Linder, and right guard A.J. Cann entrenched in starting roles, Rhaney’s best chance to make Jacksonville’s roster is to beat out Watford, Patrick Omameh, Jeremiah Poutasi, and others for a backup job.
A seventh-round pick in 2014, Rhaney had appeared in all 32 games for the Rams over the past two seasons. However, most of Rhaney’s work has come on special teams, where he’d played 237 snaps from 2015-16. Rhaney did start one contest in 2015 (and played 123 offensive snaps that year).
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/18/15
Today’s minor moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Waived with injury settlement: WR Antwan Goodley
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: CB Jeremy Cutrer (Twitter link via Mike Kaye of First Coast News)
Brandon Allen Could Earn Backup QB Job
- Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union takes his first crack at predicting the Jaguars‘ 53-man roster, and there do not seem to be any major surprises there. One point of intrigue is the quarterback position, as O’Halloran speculates that second-year signal-caller Brandon Allen, who was good enough in camp and the preseason last year to convince Jacksonville to keep a third QB for the first time since 2013, could unseat longtime backup Chad Henne.
Jalen Ramsey Undergoes Core Muscle Surgery
- Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey underwent core muscle surgery Thursday, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafalo, who adds that he should be ready for the regular season (Twitter link). Ramsey also dealt with a notable injury last spring, a torn meniscus that required surgery and kept him out of organized team activities and minicamp, but still went on to post an excellent rookie season. Last year’s fifth overall pick, Ramsey started all 16 of the Jags’ games, intercepted two passes (one of which he returned for a touchdown) and ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 21st-best corner.
Jaguars Wrap Up Draft Class
The Jaguars have signed their third-round pick, defensive end Dawuane Smoot, per a team announcement. The signing of Smoot means the Jaguars have locked up their entire seven-player draft class.
Smoot, the 68th overall selection, is coming off a four-year career at Illinois that saw him rack up 38.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks. Now, the 6-foot-3, 264-pounder will act as depth as part of an impressive defensive end group that includes offseason signing Calais Campbell, Dante Fowler and Yannick Ngakoue, who combined for 20 sacks last year.
Here’s a look at the rest of Jacksonville’s 2017 draft class:
- 1-4: Leonard Fournette, RB (LSU)
- 2-34: Cam Robinson, T (Alabama)
- 4-110: Dede Westbrook, WR (Oklahoma)
- 5-148: Blair Brown, LB (Ohio)
- 7-222: Jalen Myrick, CB (Minnesota)
- 7-240: Marquez Williams, FB (Miami)
Anquan Boldin Looking To Play In Florida?
Anquan Boldin says that he wants to continue playing in 2017, but he won’t necessarily accept any gig that comes his way. The wide receiver would like to play near his home in Florida, people close to him tell Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. 
Unfortunately for Boldin, all three Florida teams seem pretty well set at wide receiver. The Dolphins have their big three of Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills, and DeVante Parker with 2016 third round pick Leonte Carroo and Jakeem Grant in support. The Bucs have Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, Adam Humphries, Chris Godwin, and Josh Huff with talented receivers like Freddie Martino and Donteea Dye on the fringe. In Jacksonville, standouts Allen Robinson, Marqise Lee, and Allen Hurns are joined by rookie Dede Westbrook and former Buc Arrelious Benn. That’s not to say that Boldin couldn’t crack the roster with those teams, but there is not a clear path to significant playing time.
Meanwhile, it doesn’t sound like the Lions are looking for a reunion. Even though Boldin all Lions WRs in touchdown catches (eight) and finished second in receptions (61) in 2016, coach Jim Caldwell says that he’s content with his current group.
“You never say never,” Caldwell said. “Obviously, he contributed quite a bit for us, just not certain at this point in time. I think we’re in good shape where we are right now. I think we have a really good core.”
Boldin, 37 in October, averaged a career-worst 8.7 yards per grab last year. Even though he still has solid route running skills and soft hands, he’s not quite as fleet-footed as he used to be.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/15/17
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Marquis Lucas
- Waived: LB Christian Tago
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Harvey Binford, WR Fred Brown, LB Jeremiah George
- Waived: WR Marcus Leak, WR Al-Damion Riles, DT Kristjan Sokoli
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Claimed off waivers: CB Taurean Nixon (Twitter link via Mike Klis of 9News)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: CB Trevon Hartfield, T Donald Hawkins
- Waived: OL Corin Brooks, CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: QB Dylan Thompson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LS Thomas Gafford (Twitter link via Joel Erickson of the Advocate)
- Waived: OL Cameron Lee (Twitter link via Erickson), LS Jesse Schmitt (Twitter link via Herbie Teope of NOLA.com)
- Waived/injured: WR Dan Arnold
Branden Albert Reports To Jaguars
Branden Albert has joined the Jaguars for this week’s mandatory minicamp, the team announced. Albert told the Jaguars last week that he would be in attendance, so his presence was expected. 
Albert skipped the Jags’ voluntary offseason program in an effort to pressure the team to give him a better contract. Realistically, that was the only way for Albert to drum up any degree of leverage, but it was still a longshot to work. Albert has two years to go on his deal and the Jaguars aren’t exactly sure what they have in him after a down year with the Dolphins.
If Albert performs well and stays healthy this season, he may have a chance at a reworked contract next offseason. For now, he’s slated to play out the 2017 season at an $8.9MM cap number. In 2018, that figure jumps to $9.6MM. Unfortunately for him, there is no guaranteed money remaining on his contract.
Now that Albert is in the fold, the Jaguars are back to Plan A with him starting at left tackle and rookie Cam Robinson playing at left guard. Beyond that, the Jags are projected to start Brandon Linder at center, A.J. Cann at right guard, and Jermey Parnell at right tackle.
Peyton Thompson May Finally Have Opportunity To Contribute
- Jaguars safety Peyton Thompson has been cut six times during his career, including twice by Jacksonville. However, considering the injuries to the team’s secondary, Ryan O’Halloran of Jacksonville.com believes the 26-year-old finally has a chance to earn a more significant defensive role. The former undrafted free agent has played in 30 games for the Jaguars over the past two seasons, compiling 27 tackles.
[SOURCE LINK]
Branden Albert To Report To Jaguars
Finally, the Jaguars will get to see their starting left tackle in action. Jaguars coach Doug Marrone told reporters that Branden Albert has informed him he’ll be at mandatory minicamp next week (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).
The Jaguars acquired Albert via trade earlier this offseason from the Dolphins, but the tackle has been distant from the team in an effort to renegotiate his contract. With two years to go and little in the way of leverage, the Jaguars have held firm and refused to open talks with the veteran. Albert, it seems, is accepting that he will have to play out the deal that he inked with Miami. He’s scheduled to play out the 2017 season at an $8.9MM cap number. Next year, that figure jumps to $9.6MM.
Unfortunately for Albert, there is zero guaranteed money left on his contract. And even though he’s no longer considered an elite tackle, he feels that he should have a better deal, particularly when considering the way the tackle market exploded this spring.
Last year, Albert registered a career-worst 42.2 overall score on Pro Football Focus. He also missed four games due to injury. In his healthier years, however, he vacillated between above average to very good.