Workout Notes: Raiders, Colts, Packers
Today’s workouts from around the league:
- The Raiders worked out linebacker Emmanuel Acho, safety Stevie Brown, safety Chris Clemons, defensive back Chris Hackett, defensive end/outside linebacker Adrian Hubbard, and linebacker Colton Underwood, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
- The Colts worked out tight end Cameron Clear, cornerbacks Jeremy Harris and Corey White, and safety Chris Hackett last week, Wilson tweets.
- The Packers worked out wide receiver Ify Umodu, quarterback Matt Behrendt, cornerback Brandon McGee, wide receiver Denarius Moore, and wide receiver Larry Pinkard, Wilson tweets.
- The Bengals worked out defensive backs Brandon Ghee, Robert McClain, and Corey White, Wilson tweets.
- The Chiefs worked out linebackers Thomas Keiser and Andy Studebaker, Wilson tweets.
- The Lions worked out former Falcons linebacker Joplo Bartu, Wilson tweets.
- The Broncos worked out offensive lineman Isaiah Shelton last week, Wilson tweets.
- The Browns worked out safety Sean Baker and linebacker Colton Underwood last week, Wilson tweets.
- The Jets auditioned linebacker Ryan Mueller last week, Wilson tweets.
- Washington worked out defensive back Al Louis-Jean, Wilson tweets.
- The Jaguars worked out defensive back Brandon McGee, according to Wilson (on Twitter).
Practice Squad Updates: 11/30/15
Today’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: C Cornelius Edison (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Asa Jackson (Twitter link via Coley Harvey of ESPN.com)
- Cut: OG Dan France
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: OL Daniel Munyer (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Mike Lee, LB Brandon Hepburn (Twitter link via team)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Rico Richardson (Twitter link via Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com)
Washington
- Signed: CB Jeremy Harris (via press release)
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/28/15
As teams finalize their rosters for Week 12 games, we’ll round up Saturday’s latest minor transactions from around the NFL right here:
- In addition to making the promotion of tight end Asante Cleveland (reported yesterday) official, the Patriots have also moved linebacker Darius Fleming from their practice squad to the 53-man roster, cutting safety Dewey McDonald to make room, tweets Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. McDonald’s stint on the active roster didn’t last long — he was just signed two days ago.
Earlier updates:
- The Chiefs have promoted wide receiver Frankie Hammond to the 53-man roster, waiving cornerback Saalim Hakim in a corresponding move, tweets Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. Hammond returned 15 punts for the Chiefs in 2014, so he may get a shot at that job this weekend with De’Anthony Thomas sidelined.
- The Dolphins have made a change on defense, cutting linebacker Mike Hull and replacing him on the 53-man roster with safety Shamiel Gary, who received a promotion from the practice squad (Twitter link). If he’s active on Sunday, Gary would get the opportunity to appear in his first regular season NFL game.
- As expected, the Titans have elevated outside linebacker Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil to their active roster, waiving wide receiver Rico Richardson to create an opening, tweets Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com. Head coach Mike Mularkey had indicated on Friday that Cudjoe-Virgil was in line for a promotion from the practice squad.
- The Bears have swapped one long snapper for another, signing Patrick Scales and waiving Thomas Gafford, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). Having been with the team all season, Gafford is eligible to collect the rest of his 2015 salary in termination pay.
Workout Notes: Hunter, Housler, Mitchell
Running back Kendall Hunter has been a busy man as of late and his most recent audition came with the Jets on Tuesday, as Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets. Hunter has also worked out for the Jaguars, Seahawks, and Patriots within the last month. Hunter, who has seen his NFL career derailed by injuries in recent years, was removed from San Francisco’s injured reserve list in September with a settlement, making him a free agent.
Here’s a rundown of the rest of Tuesday’s auditions:
- Tight end Rob Housler and defensive lineman Tim Jamison also worked out for the Jets, per Costello.
- The Bills tried out defensive tackles Kelcy Quarles and Toby Johnson on Tuesday, as Mike Rodak of ESPN.com tweets.
- The Packers worked out cornerback Terrance Mitchell, a source tells Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The ex-Oregon player was on the Bears’ practice squad prior to his release last week.
- The Chiefs worked out former Pats defensive back Dewey McDonald over the weekend, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
- The Raiders worked out defensive end Glenn Foster, defensive end Gerald Rivers, defensive lineman Greg Scruggs, defensive lineman Davon Walls, and linebacker Tony Washington, Wilson tweets.
Jaye Howard, Chiefs Talking Long-Term Deal
While many teams around the NFL have policies in place that prevent in-season extensions, the Chiefs are not one of them, and the club has reportedly engaged in discussions with one of its top defenders. According to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star, the Chiefs have begun extension talks for defensive lineman Jaye Howard.
Howard, a fourth-round pick in the 2012 draft, was cut by the Seahawks prior to the 2013 season, and was claimed off waivers by the Chiefs. The former Florida Gator has since blossomed in Kansas City, earning a starting job on the defensive line. So far this season, Howard has compiled 40 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.
With his rookie contract set to expire at year’s end, Howard, who turns 27 next month, will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in the winter if he doesn’t sign a new deal with the Chiefs. For his part, Howard would love to remain in Kansas City, suggesting that his teammates are “like family.”
“I like Coach [Andy] Reid, I love playing for him,” Howard said, per Paylor. “Love this organization. We’re building something. We’ve got young players; sooner or later, we’re going to be one of the top-10 [defenses] in the league.”
For a player like Howard, a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme who typically doesn’t get after the passer much, his value can be difficult to determine. However, Pro Football Focus grades him among the league’s top interior defensive linemen for the 2015 season — he ranks 14th overall and third against the run among interior DL, per PFF.
It was around this time last season that fellow Chiefs defensive lineman Allen Bailey signed a four-year, $25MM extension. At the time, Bailey was in his first full season as a starter, so it would make sense for Howard to at least match – and perhaps surpass – that deal. That’s certainly the case that will be made by agent Drew Rosenhaus, who represents both Bailey and Howard.
If Rosenhaus pushes for a larger deal than Bailey’s, there aren’t a ton of comparable recent signings for him to point to. The only 3-4 defensive ends to sign bigger contracts within the last year are Cameron Heyward of the Steelers and Corey Liuget of the Chargers, who are both earning $10MM+ annually on their new extensions.
Latest On Lions’ GM Search
The Lions announced on Thursday that they’ve established an advisory board to lead the search for a new general manager, while continuing to consult with the league’s career development advisory panel. That panel has met twice already and will meet twice more before the end of the season, but Tom Pelissero of USA Today has already learned the identities of five of the leading candidates.
According to Pelissero, some of the early frontrunners are Chiefs director of football operations Chris Ballard, Ravens assistant GM Eric DeCosta, Vikings assistant GM George Paton, Jaguars director of player personnel Chris Polian, and Packers director of player personnel Eliot Wolf. All five executives have been linked to the job in one fashion or another, though many have speculated that the Lions will not be able to lure Wolf away from Green Bay, where he is thought to be the heir apparent to the GM job. Ballard and DeCosta, two highly-respected NFL execs, were on last year’s list cultivated by the panel. The Jets used the panel last year to make their hire of Mike Maccagnan, who was then the Texans’ director of college scouting.
On Thursday afternoon, the Lions hired Rod Wood as the team’s new president, taking over the position previously held by Tom Lewand. Wood, of course, will be an integral part of the team’s advisory board to find its next GM. That group also includes owner Martha Firestone Ford and the team’s board of directors and vice chairmen, all of whom are members of the Ford family.
Workout Notes: Seahawks, Colts, Bears
The Kendall Hunter tour continues. On Tuesday, the Seahawks tried out the running back, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Hunter, who has seen his NFL career derailed by injuries in recent years, was removed from Sam Francisco’s injured reserve list in September with a settlement, making him a free agent. Last week, he tried out for the Jaguars, but that audition did not immediately lead to a deal.
Here’s a roundup of Tuesday’s notable workouts from around the NFL:
- The Colts tried out nose tackle Barry Cofield, according to Yates (on Twitter). He adds that tight end Joseph Fauria worked out for the Chiefs and Patriots while running back Dri Archer auditioned for the Jets.
- The Bears hosted a few players for workouts, per Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com (on Twitter), linebacker Xzavier Dickson, defensive end Tyre Glasper, linebacker Danny Mason, and linebacker Mike McAdoo.
- Wide receiver Tandon Doss was among players Jets tried out today, as Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets.
- The Falcons worked out cornerbacks Marc Anthony and Keon Lyn, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
- The Raiders worked out center Adam Gettis, Wilson tweets.
- The 49ers worked out former Texas offensive tackle Donald Hawkins, Wilson tweets.
- The Titans tried out Damarr Aultman, McLeod Bethel-Thompson, Alan Bonner, Antwan Goodley, Colin Lockett, Dustin Vaughan, Wilson tweets.
- The Eagles auditioned eight players on Monday, including wide receiver Corey Washington, safety Brandian Ross, defensive end Brian Mihalik, linebacker Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo, linebacker Brandon Hepburn, defensive tackle Toby Johnson, cornerback Trovon Reed, and cornerback Robert Steeples, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links).
- The Saints worked out running back Bronson Hill and defensive end Phillip Hunt, Wilson tweets.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/17/15
Here are Tuesday’s minor transactions from across the NFL:
- The Dolphins waived center Sam Brenner, as Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald tweets.
- The Browns waived tight end Rob Housler (hamstring) from injured reserve today, Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal tweets.
- The Patriots waived offensive lineman Chris Barker while promoting wide receiver Chris Harper from the practice squad, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets.
Earlier Updates:
- The Seahawks have waived wide receiver Chris Matthews, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Matthews had just four receptions during his 12 regular-season games with Seattle, matching the four balls he caught in last season’s Super Bowl against the Pats. Per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter), the Seahawks are promoting wide receiver Kevin Smith to the active roster to replace Matthews.
- The Dolphins will sign linebacker James-Michael Johnson, tweets Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Johnson was just released by the Lions on Saturday, so he didn’t last long on the open market.
- Speaking of the Lions, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets that, as expected, the club will place cornerback Josh Wilson on injured reserve due to what Jim Caldwell called a “significant” knee injury. Detroit is expected to sign a new cornerback shortly to help solidify a position that has been hit hard by injuries.
- The Titans have added two players to their 53-man roster, signing wide receiver Tre McBride from their own practice squad, along with wide receiver Andrew Turzilli from the 49ers‘ practice squad (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com). The two wideouts will take the roster spots vacated by WR Justin Hunter and CB Jason McCourty, who were formally placed on injured reserve today.
- The Bears have made a change at cornerback, waiving Terrance Mitchell and promoting Jacoby Glenn from their practice squad to fill the newly-opened roster spot, the team announced today (Twitter link).
- The Chiefs have placed tight end James O’Shaughnessy on injured reserve due to a foot injury, creating an opening for defensive tackle David King, whom Kansas City claimed off waivers from the Seahawks, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter).
- The Giants have waived linebacker James Morris, according to a team release. Morris, who was elevated from the practice squad at the end of October, played on special teams during his brief stint on New York’s 53-man roster.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/17/15
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Corey Washington (Twitter link via Art Stapleton of The Record), LB Khaseem Greene (Twitter link via Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com)
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: DE B.J. McBryde (Twitter link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
- Cut: DT Eric Crume
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: TE Ross Travis (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
- Cut: DT Hebron Fangupo
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: T/G Chris Martin (Twitter link via agent Brett Tessler)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: TE Dominique Jones (Twitter link via Ben Goessling of ESPN.com)
New York Giants
- Cut: WR Julian Talley (via press release)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: RB George Atkinson, OL Adam Gettis (Twitter link via Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com)
- Cut: RB Rajion Neal
San Diego Chargers
- Cut: S Matt Daniels (Twitter link via Matt Gehlken of U-T San Diego)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Justin Hamilton, DB Trovon Reed (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times)
St. Louis Rams
- Signed: OL David Arkin (Twitter link via Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com)
- Cut: DE Gerald Rivers (Twitter link via Howard Balzer of USA Today)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Cut: S Akeem Davis, LB Quayshawn Nealy (press release)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OLB Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil, CB Shaquille Richardson
- Cut: OLB Markus Pierce-Brewster (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of Titans Online)
West Notes: Megatron, Cardinals, Seahawks
If Calvin Johnson and the Lions were to part ways, Megatron’s best landing spot would be with the Raiders, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports opines. Johnson, 31 in September, may not have more than three or four top-shelf seasons left in him and that’s a luxury that a rebuilding team like Detroit might not be able to afford.
If the Lions were to cut Johnson, they’d immediately open $11MM in cap room for 2016, and $21MM in 2017, when his dead money would be completely off the books. Meanwhile, a team landing him via trade would only be on the hook for Johnson’s base salaries, which total $32.45MM over the next two seasons.
So, why Megatron to Oakland? Robinson points out that Michael Crabtree is set to hit the open market and Johnson, who offers up far more talent and bigger matchup problems for opposing defenses, would be an excellent replacement. The Raiders could also have $75-$80MM in cap room next year, so they could afford Johnson’s substantial deal.
Here’s more from around the NFL’s West divisions:
- Several key Cardinals players are on the verge of free agency and general manager Steve Keim has been trying to extend some of them. Still, the GM continues to indicate that nothing is on the verge of getting done at this time, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com writes.
- The Seahawks recently added a $25K signing bonus to defensive back DeShawn Shead‘s contract, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. There are no other alterations to the deal, so it doesn’t appear that Shead gave up anything to get that additional cash.
- The 49ers worked out cornerback Chykie Brown as well as defensive backs Buddy Jackson, and Brandon McGee, tweets Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle.
- The Cardinals worked out cornerback Jordan Mabin, Wilson tweets.
- The Chiefs worked out offensive tackle Caylin Hauptmann, defensive end B.J. McBryde, and wide receiver Larry Pinkard, Wilson tweets.