Minor Moves: Thursday
Here are today’s minor transactions from around the NFL. As always, any additional moves will be added to the top:
- Seahawks cornerback DeShawn Shead signed his exclusive-rights tender, per Wilson (via Twitter). The two-year veteran appeared in all 16 of Seattle’s games last season and made 14 tackles.
- Interior offensive lineman Mike Golic Jr. signed with the Saints, notes NOLA.com’s Evan Woodberry on Twitter. The son of the former Eagles defensive lineman was in camp with the Saints briefly last summer but last played in the Arena League.
- The Chiefs cut long snapper Brandon Hartson, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun on Twitter. The 25-year-old’s only official roster time came with the Bears in 2013.
- The Buccaneers waived punter Chase Tenpenny, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com on Twitter. Tampa Bay’s roster still houses two punters: veteran Michael Koenen, who’s punted for the Bucs for the past four seasons, and Andrew Wilder.
Extra Points: Winston, Gregory, Suh
Potential No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston‘s off-field troubles persist, with the former Heisman Trophy winner being sued over a sexual assault allegation, according to the Tampa Bay Times’ Matt Baker on Twitter.
The suit was filed by the same woman who accused Winston of rape in December 2012, citing claims of sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment and “intentional infliction of emotional distress arising out of forcible rape,” Baker reports.
Attorneys for the woman filed a civil suit against Florida State in January. The Tallahassee Police Department did not charge Winston.
Here are some additional news items from around the league on Thursday.
- Randy Gregory will visit the Titans on Friday, reports the Tennessean’s Jim Wyatt on Twitter. The Titans have already worked out pass-rushers Vic Beasley, Dante Fowler Jr., and Shane Ray.
- The Lions hosted Florida offensive lineman D.J. Humphries and all-purpose runner, receiver and returner Marcus Murphy of Missouri on pre-draft visits, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. Humphries is viewed as a probable first-round pick, while Murphy may be a late-rounder or an undrafted free agent.
- Utah offensive lineman Jeremiah Poutasi has drawn interest from at least 15 NFL teams, says Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. According to Caplan (via Twitter) that Poutasi has visits with the Buccaneers, Colts, Eagles, and others, and workouts with the Panthers, Chargers, Raiders, Giants, Titans, and 49ers. Caplan adds (via Twitter) that most clubs project the Utah product as a right tackle or left guard in the NFL.
- Colorado State-Pueblo pass-rusher Darius Allen‘s been busy in his quest for an NFL shot, despite hailing from a Division II school. The outside linebacker/defensive end has visited the Cardinals and Colts and worked out for the Seahawks and Cowboys in addition to doing so for the aforementioned franchises, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
- Western Carolina safety Ace Clark has been invited to participate in the Ravens‘ local pro day on Tuesday, Wilson reports.
- Also from Wilson: Purdue running back Raheem Mostert had a private workout for the Chiefs (Twitter link).
- CBS Sports’ Joel Corry examined how the recent mega-contracts for Ben Roethlisberger and Ndamukong Suh will affect the upcoming quarterback market, including the 2012 draft class. The former agent said agents of yet-to-be extended quarterbacks will use the Suh extension to their advantage, given that the new Dolphins defensive tackle is being paid like a high-level signal-caller. Suh’s $59MM fully guaranteed cash is far more than top-market QBs Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees received in their recent extensions.
- Hoping for clarity heading into the draft on suspended wideout Justin Blackmon, the Jaguars received none from the NFL, according to Ryan O’Halloran from the Florida Times-Union on Twitter. The league office reportedly gave the NFL Players Association no timetable. Blackmon’s been suspended since November 2013.
Luke Adams contributed to this report
Draft Notes: Strong, Peters, Beasley, Fowler
Teams are in full swing in preparing for the 2015 NFL Draft, meeting with prospects and hosting workouts to fill out final draft boards. Here we will keep up with which prospects are garnering interest in a jam-packed notes post, with any updates added to the top:
- Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweets that Louisville tackle Jamon Brown will visit the Broncos, Lions, and Washington, and has private workouts scheduled with the Bengals and Bills.
- Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the Rams have visited with LSU tackle La’el Collins and Louisville WR DeVante Parker (Twitter links). In a separate piece, Thomas offers a little more detail on Parker and provides a complete list of all the pre-draft visits that the Rams have hosted.
- Kevin White visited with the Giants today, tweets Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. Raanan adds that the team is doing its due diligence just in case the wideout should fall to New York, which holds the No. 9 overall pick.
Earlier Updates
- Jaelen Strong definitely has a wrist injury, but he contradicts the report that he will need surgery, according to Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com (via Twitter).
- In addition to Strong, Todd Gurley, Cedric Ogbuehi, and Tevin Coleman will be having Combine rechecks this weekend, writes Rapoport (via Twitter).
- The Seahawks will meet with University of Louisiana at Lafayette defensive tackle Christian Ringo, according to Rapoport (via Twitter). The team will also host Michigan defensive end Frank Clark (via Twitter). Clark had recently visited the Saints in New Orleans.
- In addition to Kendricks, the Falcons will work out UCLA defensive end Owa Odighizuwa, according to Chase Goodread of NFL.com (via Twitter).
- Western Oregon wide receiver Tyrell Williams will visit the Chargers on Monday, reports Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). The Division II star has already met with the Patriots, Lions, and Cardinals.
- Minnesota defensive tackle Cam Botticelli has a number of team’s interested in his services, writes Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (via Twitter). The Texans, Eagles, Lions, Seahawks, and Buccaneers have looked into him.
- University of Cincinnati quarterback Munchie Legaux worked out for the Bengals at their local prospect day, according to the Associated Press in USA Today. Legaux will also have the opportunity to work out for the Saints later this week.
- The Saints will also host Tulane running back Dante Butler at their local prospect day on Friday, reports Tammy Nunez of NOLA.com.
- Arizona State wide receiver Jaelen Strong has a fractured bone in his wrist, which should require surgery, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). He will be among players that will get combine rechecks this weekend, and the injury could affect his draft stock (via Twitter).
- Potential first-round cornerback Marcus Peters met with the 49ers yesterday and the Falcons today, according to Rapoport (via Twitter). Peters will visit with the Raiders tomorrow.
- Pass rusher Vic Beasley has met or will meet with at least six teams drafting in the top ten, writes Rapoport (via Twitter). He will meet with the Titans today, and visit the Jets and Washington sometime next week.
- Florida pass rusher Dante Fowler Jr. will visit with Washington as well, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post. The visit might be for naught, as most believe Fowler is going to land in Jacksonville on draft day. The Jaguars select third overall.
- Stanford offensive tackle Andrus Peat visited with the Broncos, who are need of help along the offensive line after losing Orlando Franklin in free agency, writes Mike Klis of the Denver Post. Peat might not last that long, but could provide immediate impact for a team trying to return to the Super Bowl.
- Cardinals running backs coach Stump Mitchell attended Tevin Coleman’s workout at Indiana, writes Josh Weinfuss of ESPN (via Twitter). The Lions already had Coleman in for a workout earlier in the process, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). Tony Paulie of DraftInsider.net adds that the Cowboys and Patriots have expressed interest in the Indiana tailback (via Twitter).
- The Rams have scheduled a workout with Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty in Waco, according to Gil Brandt of NFL.com (via Twitter). Brandt notes the team has indicated that it will select a quarterback at some point in the draft.
- The Lions also hosted Kansas State receiver Tyler Lockett for a visit, the sixth receiver the team has brought in according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com.
- The 49ers have expressed interest in a number of LSU players, including linebacker Kwon Alexander, running back Terrence Magee, and cornerback Jalen Collins, writes Eric Branch of SFGate.com.
- Ohio State speedster Devin Smith told SiruiusXM NFL Radio he had a visit with the 49ers, saying he got a “really good vibe from the coaches and staff,” and that the visit “went really well,” (via Twitter).
- UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks met with Saints’ assistant coaches Joe Vitt and Rob Ryan during his visit with the team earlier this week, writes Katherine Terrell of NOLA.com.
- Texas linebacker Jordan Hicks worked out for the Bengals at their local prospect day, and could be a player the team keeps an eye on in the middle rounds of the draft, writes Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com.
- Florida State defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. has visited with the Patriots, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1 (via Twitter). Edwards will visit with the Texans and Seahawks as well, although Garafolo believes Seattle will need to trade up from No. 63 to draft him.
- Old Dominion basketball player Richard Ross has drawn interest from NFL teams who believe he could be next in line of basketball players making the transition to tight end. The Vikings are among the teams interested in Ross, sending tight ends coach Kevin Stefanski to the school for a private workout, writes Mark Craig of the Star Tribune.
- The Browns have conducted a private workout for quarterback Garrett Grayson at Colorado State, a source tells Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (Twitter link). Assuming they don’t trade up in the draft, the Browns figure to miss out on at least the top two QBs in this draft class, meaning a player like Grayson probably represents a more realistic target.
- Washington State wide receiver Vince Mayle has visited the 49ers, Chargers, Giants, Jets, Dolphins, Seahawks, and Washington, and is on his way to visit the Colts today, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (Twitter links).
- South Florida cornerback Chris Dunkley has visits lined up with a number of NFL teams, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). Dunkley says by the end of the process he will have met with the 49ers, Chargers, Falcons, Dolphins, Patriots, Bills, Lions, and Ravens.
- Coastal Carolina interior offensive lineman Chad Hamilton will work out privately for the Falcons on Thursday, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Hamilton previously had a private workout for the Texans.
- Wilson also reported that Western Kentucky tight end Mitchell Henry met with the Chargers for a private workout. Mitchell will meet with an NFC team this week. Additionally, Wilson reports that Marshall cornerback Darryl Roberts has had workouts for the Colts, Eagles, Chiefs, 49ers, and Packers.
- University of Washington pass rusher Andrew Hudson met with the Browns, Buccaneers, and Washington this week, as part of his pre-draft visits, writes Brett Tessler of Tessler Sports (via Twitter).
- Utah guard Junior Salt, BYU wide receiver Jordan Leslie, and San Diego State University linebacker Derek Largent are among the players the Dolphins are targeting as late-round picks or priority free agents, reports Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (via Twitter).
Rob DiRe and Rory Parks contributed to this post.
Minor Moves: Wednesday
Here are today’s minor transactions from around the NFL. As always, any additional moves will be added to the top:
- The Chiefs have waived tight end Sean McGrath, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter). McGrath retired last year, but was reinstated and officially waived by the team.
- The Giants have waived cornerback Josh Victorian, according to Caplan (via Twitter). The team has also cut defensive end Paul Hazel, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
Earlier Updates:
- The Packers have taken a flyer on developmental quarterback Matt Blanchard of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Blanchard joins Scott Tolzien on the depth chart behind Aaron Rodgers.
- The Giants have added two players, signing defensive back Josh Gordy and linebacker Ryan Jones, writes Michael Eisen of Giants.com. Gordy has played in 59 games since signing with the Jaguars as an undrafted rookie in 2010, and Jones was signed by the Ravens last June but was waived after a foot injury.
- The Saints have signed center Mike Golic Jr., according to Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter). Golic also spent time with the team last offseason.
- The Dolphins have re-signed wide receiver LaRon Byrd, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
Sean Smith Facing Suspension
According to court documents, Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith plead guilty last month to driving under the influence and received two years probation, reports Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star, who adds that under the terms of the NFL’s new drug agreement, Smith will now face a two-game suspension.
The league’s new drug policy, which was jointly approved by the NFL and the NFLPA last September, calls for a two-game ban to be levied upon a player’s “conviction or plea agreement for violations of law involving alcohol and driving.” According to Paylor, the policy also allows for longer suspensions in the case of “aggravating circumstances” such as property damage (Smith allegedly drove into a light pole).
So despite the fact that Smith won’t face any legal ramifications, he’s still likely to face discipline from the league. During talks on the drug standards, the union successfully argued against immediate suspension for players upon arrest for DUI, so Smith, who was arrested last June, didn’t face any penalties until entering his plea.
Smith, who is entering the final season of a three-year pact he signed in 2013, recently said he wouldn’t be opposed to playing out his deal with Kansas City (instead of working out an extension). His base salary for the year is guaranteed, so he probably isn’t going anywhere despite this incident, but the club will likely have to turn to its backup corners to get through the first two contests of 2015.
AFC Mailbags: Texans, Chiefs, Jets, Jags, Colts
We took a look at ESPN.com’s NFC mailbags earlier this morning. Let’s now shift our focus to the AFC…
- The Texans have historically made trades during the draft, so Tania Ganguli believes it’s a possibility the organization could move up this year. However, considering the depth at the position, she doesn’t think the Texans should trade up for a wideout.
- Adam Teicher writes that “cornerback is a spot to watch” for the Chiefs during the first round. While the organization would be “delighted” with Michigan State’s Trae Waynes, Teicher says Wake Forest’s Kevin Johnson or LSU’s Jalen Collins are more realistic targets.
- Despite the team’s acquisition of Brandon Marshall, Rich Cimini says it would be hard for the Jets to pass on Alabama’s Amari Cooper if the receiver’s available at the sixth pick.
- Chad Henne is entering the final year of his contract, and Michael DiRocco could envision the Jaguars re-signing the veteran quarterback following the 2015 season. The 29-year-old has compiled 27 touchdowns to 26 interceptions in his three seasons in Jacksonville.
- Mike Wells says it’s “highly unlikely” that Ahmad Bradshaw returns to the Colts. The 29-year-old certainly provided a spark during his tenure in Indy, but he only managed to play 13 games between the two seasons. Futhermore, the addition of Frank Gore would leave Bradshaw without a clear role.
Draft Notes: Parker, Holliman, Roberts, Bucs
Let’s take a look at the latest regarding a handful of prospects as the 2015 NFL Draft draws nearer:
- Louisville wide receiver DeVante Parker has pre-draft visits lined up with the Patriots, Ravens, Jets, Saints, Rams, Titans, 49ers and Panthers, according to Sports Illustrated’s Robert Klemko (Twitter link). In a mock draft posted earlier today, our own Rob Dire has the highly touted Parker going 11th overall to the Vikings.
- Safety Gerod Holliman, Parker’s teammate at Louisville, tweeted that his workout with the Dolphins was a “success.”
- Marshall cornerback Darryl Roberts visited the Chiefs this week, writes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post and Baltimore Sun. Roberts previously had private workouts with the 49ers and Packers.
- Stony Brook receiver Adrian Coxson is scheduled to visit the Packers, reports Wilson (via Twitter).
- The Buccaneers are expected to take a quarterback – either Florida State’s Jameis Winston or Oregon’s Marcus Mariota – with the first overall pick, but Wilson tweets that a a lesser-known QB, West Georgia’s Austin Trainor, impressed the team at its local prospect day. Trainor was the only signal caller in attendance.
- In other Bucs news, South Florida kicker Marvin Kloss had a “strong workout” for the team Friday, per Wilson. Kloss hit 9 of 10 field goals, including a 55-yarder, and three of his four kickoffs went for touchbacks.
West Notes: Barksdale, Dunkley, Vincent
As teams attempt to expand their prospect visit itineraries, here is some early-afternoon news from the western divisions.
- Offensive tackle Joe Barksdale paid a visit to the Titans this week, but according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter links), the veteran free agent left Tennessee without a deal, and the Rams remain in the mix for him.
- Missouri defensive tackle Lucas Vincent has a workout today with the Chiefs, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link). Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun passes along word of another local workout, tweeting that the Broncos are taking a look at Colorado State-Pueblo defensive lineman Josh Bredl.
- Also from Paylor (via Twitter): cornerback prospect DeVante Bausby is attending the Chiefs’ local pro day. A longtime starter at Division II power Pittsburg State, Bausby attended high school in Kansas City, Kan.
- South Florida cornerback Chris Dunkley will trek to the 49ers‘ and Chargers‘ facilities this week, respectively, according to the Tampa Bay Times’ Greg Auman on Twitter. The converted wide receiver who also returned kicks for the Bulls previously visited the Patriots and Bills.
- In addition to lining up summits with DeVante Parker and Sammie Coates, the 49ers will also meet with Ohio State wide receiver Devin Smith next week, per Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. ESPN’s Todd McShay rates the ex-Buckeyes deep threat as his 34th-best prospect (subscription required). The 49ers have also had discussions with wideouts they’d have to trade up to draft in Amari Cooper and Kevin White, reports Barrows.
Sam Robinson contributed to this report
Draft Notes: Bucs, Fowler, Mariota, Bears
As previously reported, Dante Fowler Jr. visited the Buccaneers, and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that Tampa Bay GM Jason Licht “really likes” the Florida pass rusher. However, Fowler himself seems to recognize that he’s unlikely to land with the Bucs, as Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times details.
“They’re going with a quarterback,” Fowler said. “I feel like there’s no need for them to talk to me and waste my time unless something happens with Jameis [Winston] or Marcus [Mariota] or something like that. They know where they’re going. I understand that.”
While the Bucs cover all their bases, Mariota appears to be doing the same thing — Adam Schefter of ESPN.com said Thursday on ESPN 1000 in Chicago that the Oregon signal-caller recently paid a visit to the Bears. Mariota is considered the favorite to come off the board at No. 2, and may not be available when Chicago’s No. 7 overall pick rolls around, but as our Rob DiRe laid out this morning in PFR’s first 2015 mock draft, there are scenarios in which Mariota is still in play at that point. It sounds like both he and the Bears are doing their due diligence.
Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post and the Baltimore Sun has updates on several more draft prospects for us this morning, so let’s round those up….
- Cameron Artis-Payne (RB, Auburn): Met with the Patriots and Browns (link).
- Adrian Coxson (WR, Stony Brook): The Giants were “very impressed’ with him at their local prospect day (Twitter link).
- Tyler Murphy (QB, Boston College): Visiting the Steelers today (link).
- Nick Perry (S, Alabama): Had private workouts for the Patriots and Colts (link).
- Tray Walker (CB, Texas Southern): Visits with the Ravens, Chiefs, Packers, Seahawks, Dolphins, and Falcons, plus private workouts with the Cardinals and Texans (link). Had a previously-reported visit with the Raiders.
Byron Bell Works Out For Chiefs
In search of potential offensive line help, the Chiefs conducted a workout for former Panthers tackle Byron Bell this week, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. The audition didn’t immediately result in a new contract for the free agent lineman.
Bell, 26, spent his first four NFL seasons with the Panthers, starting 56 of the 62 regular season contests he played for the club since 2011. In 2014, the New Mexico product was handed the reins at left tackle for the first time, and the results were not pretty. Bell graded out as the second-worst offensive tackle in football out of 84 qualified players, with a -33.4 overall rating, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Only Jake Matthews of the Falcons (-36.8) finished lower.
With the Panthers not interested in bringing back Bell, the veteran tackle hasn’t drawn much interest during the first few weeks of free agency. If the Chiefs were to bring him aboard, I imagine it would be to push Donald Stephenson for playing time at right tackle, or perhaps for a swing tackle role. Despite an up-and-down performance of his own in 2014, former first overall pick Eric Fisher looks like a fixture at left tackle in Kansas City.