Minor NFL Transactions: 5/6/19
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DE Aaron Adeoye, CB Terrell Bonds, OT Darrell Williams
- Waived: DB Robertson Daniel, S Evan Worthington, OL C.J. Toogood
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Tommy Doles, DE Jalen Dalton
- Cut: DB Adarius Pickett, DE Lawrence Marshall
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Jhavonte Dean, RB Travon Gray, LB Willie Harvey
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed: WR Jawill Davis
- Signed: WR Darrius Shepherd, CB Chandon Sullivan
- Released: RB Lavon Coleman
Kansas City Chiefs
- Reserve/non-football injury list: DE Tim Ward
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LB Bryce Hager
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Terrance Alexander, DE Stacy Keely, DB Isaiah Wharton
New England Patriots
- WR Xavier Ubosi
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Kenny Bigelow Jr., RB Devine Ozigbo, CB Jordan Wyatt
New York Giants
- Signed: G Austin Droogsma
New York Jets
- Waived: QB Brandon Silvers
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: P A.J. Cole, DT Ronald Ollie
- Waived: P Drew Kaser, OL Jamar McGloster
San Francisco 49ers
- Claimed: OL Willie Beavers,
- Signed: LB LaRoy Reynolds, RB Austin Walter
- Waived: RB Matthew Dayes, DL Ryan Delaire
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/5/19
We’ll keep track of the latest late-round draft pick signings here:
- The Vikings announced the signing of seventh round pick cornerback Kris Boyd. With Boyd inked, the Vikings are just waiting on two more picks to sign, first round pick center Garrett Bradbury and fellow seventh-rounder long snapper Austin Cutting. Cutting is waiting for clearance from the Air Force, so it might be a while before it signs. A Texas product, Boyd is a very solid athlete who was projected by many to be a mid-round selection, but he ended up slipping to the 217th overall pick. The 2018 first-team All-Big 12 selection received a $109.7K signing bonus.
Vikings Notes: Rudolph, Cutting, Badet, Kearse
The Vikings made a splash last week in the draft, when they took Alabama tight end Irv Smith Jr. 50th overall. Smith was considered by many to be the third best tight end in the draft behind the Iowa standouts, and the Vikings are hoping he can turn into a consistent third option behind Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen in the future. But the move could have more immediate implications for one current member of the team, tight end Kyle Rudolph. The selection “appeared to foreshadow that Rudolph’s days in Minnesota could be numbered,” writes Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com.
Additionally, sources told Cronin that the Vikings “fielded interest” before and during the draft about a potential trade for Rudolph. We heard in March that the Vikings had asked Rudolph to take a pay cut, but his representatives then pushed back forcefully on that and denied the report. His reps also said at the time that the team had told them Rudolph would be on the roster in 2019, but that’s looking like far from a sure thing now. Last month Albert Breer of SI.com speculated that the Patriots could be interested in adding Rudolph. With New England looking thin at tight end after Rob Gronkowski’s retirement, it wouldn’t be a shocker.
Here’s more from Minnesota:
- New Vikings long snapper Austin Cutting, a seventh round pick of the team, will report to rookie minicamp but has signed an “injury protection agreement” instead of his rookie contract, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link). Cutting is an Air Force product, and he’s not signing “out of respect to letting the Air Force eventually give a final decision of if he can play in 2019,” Tomasson writes. Cutting could possibly have to leave the team for two years to fulfill his service requirements, but we won’t know for sure for a little while longer.
- Receiver Jeff Badet spent last season on the Vikings’ practice squad, and he signed a reserve/futures deal with the team after the season ended. But he almost didn’t end up back with the Vikings, as he was courted by the Jets, according to Tomasson. Minnesota ended up giving the Oklahoma product a $75K bonus to stick around, which swayed him. Badet, an undrafted rookie last year, became the second player to almost defect to the Jets before coming home after Anthony Barr‘s heavily publicized free agency ordeal.
- The Vikings are looking to convert safety Jayron Kearse to a weakside linebacker this offseason, sources told Tomasson. Kearse was taken by the Vikes in the seventh round back in 2016. A Clemson product, Kearse played linebacker in high school before being switched to safety in college. Kearse played around 20 percent of the Vikings’ defensive snaps last season and was a key player on special teams, so he’s got a significant role. It’ll be interesting to see how his transition turns out.
Vikings Sign Three Draft Picks
The Vikings got ahead of the game on Friday by signing the following draft choices (all Twitter links from Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press):
- 5-162: Cameron Smith, LB (USC) (link)
- 6-190: Armon Watts, DT (Arkansas) (link)
- 6-193: Oli Udoh, T (Elon) (link)
Smith, who grew up in sunny California, will have to get used to the cold weather in Minnesota. He didn’t impress with his measurables in workouts, but he has proven to be a savvy defender in live action. In 2017, he led the Trojans with 112 tackles, with 11 tackles for a loss. He was slowed somewhat by injuries last year, but still managed 81 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss in ten games.
Watts measures in at 6’5″ and roughly 300 pounds, so he already has the size to compete in the NFL. In accordance with his slot, he’ll receive a four-year, $2.687MM deal with a $167K signing bonus.
Vikings To Sign Irv Smith Jr.
Vikings second-round pick Irv Smith Jr. has reached agreement with the club on his rookie deal, as ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. As of this writing, the tight end is the highest-drafted 2019 rookie to put pen to paper. 
Smith was widely regarded as one of the top tight ends in this year’s class after a strong showing at Alabama. After Iowa’s T.J. Hockenson went to the Lions (No. 8 overall) and Noah Fant fell to the Broncos (No. 20), Smith stood out in a group that still included Washington’s Drew Sample, San Jose State’s Josh Oliver, and Texas A&M’s Jace Sternberger.
Now in Minnesota, the No. 50 overall pick could theoretically displace Kyle Rudolph. Rudolph, who is consistent yet unremarkable, is under contract for one more year. Dumping Rudolph would save the club $7MM+ in cap room. On draft week, the Vikings received calls on Rudolph, so there’s definitely a market for his services.
Per the terms of Smith’s slot, he’ll earn $5.8MM over the life of his four-year deal.
Vikings To Decline Treadwell’s Option
The Vikings are not expected to pick up the fifth-year option for wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press (on Twitter). The Vikings technically have until the Friday deadline to make the call, but barring a change in thinking, Treadwell will be on course for free agency after the 2019 season. 
The 2020 option for Treadwell would have called for a $10.162MM salary. Although it would have been guaranteed for injury only, it was a risk that the front office was unwilling to take. Treadwell, 24 in June, has done little to justify his selection at No. 23 overall in 2016. Last year, he had 35 catches for 302 yards and one touchdown, and that was his most productive season to date.
In fact, Treadwell profiles as a trade candidate after a series of costly mistakes in 2018. The Vikings probably won’t get much for him, but there are likely evaluators out there who feel that they can harness the talent he displayed just three years ago.
In 2016, Treadwell, was widely projected as a top-15 pick before a slow 40-yard dash time and other concerns about his game hurt his draft stock. Still, the Chiefs and other clubs were targeting him in the lower-third of the first round before the Vikings snatched him.
Vikings Add 10 Undrafted Free Agents
The Vikings agreed to terms with 10 undrafted free agents on Monday. Here is the full list:
- Micah Abernathy, S (Tennessee)
- Khari Blasingame, FB (Vanderbilt)
- Jake Browning, QB (Washington)
- Davion Davis, WR (Sam Houston State)
- Brandon Dillon, TE (Marian)
- Alexander Hollins, WR (Eastern Illinois)
- John Keenoy, C (Western Michigan)
- Nate Meadors, CB (UCLA)
- Tito Odenigbo, DT (Miami)
- Anree Saint-Amour, DE (Georgia Tech)
The Huskies’ career leader in passing yardage (12,296) and single-season touchdown pass leader with 43 in 2016, Browning will be the fourth quarterback on Minnesota’s offseason roster. He joins fellow newcomer Sean Mannion, along with Kirk Cousins and 2017 UDFA Kyle Sloter. Tito Odenigbo is Vikings defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo‘s younger brother. Keenoy was a 50-game starter at Western Michigan, while Dillon posted 105 receptions for 1,661 yards at Marian — an NAIA school.
Of the receivers on the Vikings’ roster, only two — Stefon Diggs and Laquon Treadwell — were draft picks. Davis was a four-year contributor at Sam Houston State, hauling in 226 receptions for 3,181 yards and 40 touchdown grabs.
Vikings Deal No. 159 To Patriots
After moving down four times late Friday night, the Vikings did so again in Round 5. The Patriots climbed up three spots, acquiring the No. 159 pick from the Vikings.
Minnesota’s next pick window will open at No. 162, and New England will send a seventh-rounder (No. 239) to the NFC North team. With the pick, the Patriots took Maryland defensive tackle Byron Cowart.
Cowart joins fellow former Big Ten defensive lineman Chase Winovich as front-seven players headed to New England. Cowart only played one season at Maryland, doing so after transferring from Auburn. He finished his college career with just three sacks, all three coming with the Terrapins last season.
Seahawks Trade No. 114 To Vikings
The Seahawks have pulled off another trade. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that Seattle is sending No. 114 to the Vikings. In exchange, Minnesota will send No. 120 and No. 204.
The Vikings will use the pick on Oklahoma offensive guard Dru Samia. The six-foot-five, 302-pound lineman primarily played offensive guard throughout his collegiate career. He started all 14 games in 2018, earning him a second-team All-American nod from the Associated Press.
The Vikings have added a pair of key offensive linemen this offseason. They signed offensive guard Josh Kline before drafting center Garrett Bradbury in the first round.
Vikings Receiving Calls On Veterans
It could be a busy day in Minnesota. SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets that the organization has received calls on three veterans: tight end Kyle Rudolph and cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes. Breer notes that while the organization is not “actively shopping” the trio, they’d be open to trades for their expensive veterans.
Breer had mentioned earlier this week that the Vikings could be willing to talk trade. Rudolph is a natural trade candidate, as the tight end is set to earn $7.28MM in the final year of his contract. The organization also selected Alabama tight end Irv Smith Jr. with their second-round pick, which naturally added some competition to the position. General manager Rick Spielman said the two players can play different roles on offense, with ESPN’s Courtney Cronin suggesting the offense could replicate Philly, where Zach Ertz and Trey Burton coexisted. The 29-year-old Rudolph had another productive season in 2018, hauling in 64 receptions for 634 yards and four scores.
Waynes is also a natural trade candidate, as the cornerback will be playing on a fully-guaranteed fifth-year option salary of $9.07MM. The former first-rounded has spent his entire career in Minnesota, including a 2018 campaign where he finished with 44 tackles, eight passes defended, and one interception.
As Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com points out, trading Rhodes could be a bit more complicated. His $10.4MM salary is fully-guaranteed, and a trade would subsequently trigger a $7.2MM cap charge. At this point of the offseason, it could be difficult for an inquiring team to fit the 28-year-old into their books. On the flip side, a trade would help the Vikings financially; the team would save $6.14MM in cap space by trading the defensive back. Rhodes finished last season with 47 tackles, nine passes defended, and one interception.