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NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/12/22

May 12th, 2022 at 6:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

Thursday has featured several rookie deals finalized. Here are the mid- and late-round draftees to sign their four-year contracts today:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

  • WR Montrell Washington (fifth round, Samford)

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • RB Snoop Conner (fifth round, Ole Miss)
  • CB Gregory Junior (sixth round, Ouachita Baptist)
  • CB Montaric Brown (seventh round, Arkansas)

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Vikings Sign First-Round S Lewis Cine

May 11th, 2022 at 4:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

The closeout pick on the Georgia defense’s banner night, Lewis Cine signed his rookie contract Wednesday. The Vikings have their first-round safety signed to his four-year pact.

Cine’s rookie contract, which can run through 2026 via the fifth-year option, is fully guaranteed, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. It is worth $11.5MM.

Georgia’s dominant defense produced five first-round picks — Travon Walker, Jordan Davis, Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt and Cine — and had representation on all three levels. Cine was the only Bulldogs secondary cog selected in Round 1, and it came after the Vikings traded back 20 spots to allow the Lions to move up for Jameson Williams. Minnesota acquired the Nos. 32 and 34 overall picks from its division rival, before trading down from No. 34 to enable the Packers to grab wideout Christian Watson to start the draft’s Friday session. The Vikings picked up two Packers second-rounders to do that, and new GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah used that ammo to move up in Round 2 for Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth.

ESPN.com’s No. 41 overall prospect, Cine established new career-high marks in tackles (73) and passes defensed (nine) as a junior to both help the Bulldogs to a 14-1 national championship-winning season and move himself toward the first-round radar. Cine earned second-team All-SEC acclaim last season and became the Vikings’ first Round 1 safety pick since Harrison Smith 10 years ago. Cine figures to team with Smith in Minnesota’s starting lineup soon.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/11/22

May 11th, 2022 at 4:20pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s late-round signings here:

Denver Broncos

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

  • Signed: TE Nick Muse (sixth round, South Carolina)

New England Patriots

  • Signed: DT Sam Roberts (sixth round, Northwest Missouri State)

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/5/22

May 5th, 2022 at 7:19pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor NFL transactions:

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Minnesota Vikings

2023 NFL Fifth-Year Option Results

May 3rd, 2022 at 9:17am CST by Zachary Links

Monday marked the deadline for NFL clubs to officially pick up their options on 2019 first-rounders. Fifth-year option seasons are no longer just guaranteed for injury — they’re now fully guaranteed, which makes these decisions a little tougher for teams.

Nineteen players had their options exercised, a tick up from 14 last year. Here’s the full rundown:

1. QB Kyler Murray, Cardinals – Exercised ($29.7MM)
2. DE Nick Bosa, 49ers: Exercised ($17.9MM)
3. DE Quinnen Williams, Jets: Exercised ($11.5MM)
4. DE Clelin Ferrell, Raiders: Declined ($11.5MM)
5. LB Devin White, Buccaneers: Exercised ($11.7MM)
6. QB Daniel Jones, Giants: Declined ($22.4MM)
7. DE Josh Allen, Jaguars: Exercised ($11.5MM)
8. TE T.J. Hockenson, Lions: Exercised ($9.4MM)
9. DT Ed Oliver, Bills: Exercised ($10.8MM)
10. LB Devin Bush, Steelers: Declined ($10.9MM)
11. OT Jonah Williams, Bengals: Exercised ($12.6MM)
12. LB Rashan Gary, Packers: Exercised ($10.9MM)
13. DT Christian Wilkins, Dolphins: Exercised ($10.8MM)
14. G Chris Lindstrom, Falcons: Exercised ($13.2MM)
15. QB Dwayne Haskins:
16. DE Brian Burns, Panthers: Exercised ($16MM)
17. DT Dexter Lawrence, Giants: Exercised ($10.8MM)
18. C Garrett Bradbury, Vikings: Declined ($13.2MM)
19. DT Jeffery Simmons, Titans: Exercised ($10.8MM)
20. TE Noah Fant, Seahawks: Exercised ($6.9MM; originally drafted by Broncos)
21. S Darnell Savage, Packers: Exercised ($7.9MM)
22. OT Andre Dillard, Eagles: Declined ($12.6MM)
23. OT Tytus Howard, Texans: Exercised ($13.2MM)
24. RB Josh Jacobs, Raiders: Declined ($8MM)
25. WR Marquise Brown, Cardinals: ($13.4MM; originally drafted by Ravens)
26. DE Montez Sweat, Commanders: Exercised ($11.5MM)
27. S Johnathan Abram, Raiders: Declined ($7.9MM)
28. DE Jerry Tillery, Chargers: Declined ($11.5MM)
29. DE L.J. Collier, Seahawks: Declined ($11.5MM)
30. CB Deandre Baker — N/A (released by Giants)
31. OT Kaleb McGary, Falcons: Declined ($13.2MM)
32. WR N’Keal Harry, Patriots: Declined ($12.4MM)

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/2/22

May 2nd, 2022 at 9:13pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cleveland Browns

Jacksonville Jaguars

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

Tennessee Titans

Vikings Decline C Garrett Bradbury’s Fifth-Year Option

May 2nd, 2022 at 5:08pm CST by Ben Levine

As expected, the Vikings will be making center Garrett Bradbury an impending free agent. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter), the Vikings won’t pick up the offensive lineman’s fifth-year option. We heard late last month that this was the likely outcome.

Bradbury would have been eligible to earn a $13.2MM 2023 salary via the fifth-year option. As our own Sam Robinson recently pointed out, because all offensive linemen are grouped together under the franchise tag system, the foundation for the fifth-year option setup, centers and guards see their option salaries spike because of tackles’ higher wages.

As a result, the Vikings thought that $13MM+ salary was too high for a player of Bradbury’s caliber. However, their decision to decline the fifth-year option doesn’t necessarily mean the player isn’t in their future plans.

Bradbury was the 18th-overall pick in the 2019 draft, and he’s started each of his 45 games since entering the NFL. Pro Football Focus hasn’t been particularly fond of his performance in the NFL, and following a 2021 season where they ranked Minnesota’s O-line 23rd, the site had Bradbury as the second-worst player on that unit.

Vikings Trade Up To No. 42 For Andrew Booth

April 29th, 2022 at 7:08pm CST by Ely Allen

The Vikings traded for the Colts No. 42 overall pick to select Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth in the 2022 NFL Draft. Booth is the seventh cornerback off the board. 

For awhile, Booth was considered the consensus second-best cornerback in a first round that was expected to see many get selected. Booth didn’t hear his named called with the four other cornerbacks taken yesterday, but he didn’t last long into Day 2.

Booth led the Tigers with three interceptions and added 5 passes broken up in his first season as a full time starter. Booth recently underwent hernia surgery that may hold him out of the Vikings’ early offseason workouts, but Minnesota sees enough upside to the 21-year-old to move up for him anyway. When healthy, Booth boasts an intriguing combination of length, athleticism, and ball skills that should translate well at the next level.

Minnesota gave the Colts their 53rd (2nd round) pick, 77th (3rd round) pick, and 192nd (6th round) pick in exchange for the pick used to select Booth and Indianapolis’ 122nd (4th round) pick.

Packers Trade Up To No. 34, Select WR Christian Watson

April 29th, 2022 at 6:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

After another night in which the Packers added to their defense, but not the receiving corps, they have added a wideout right away on Day 2. Green Bay has traded picks 53 and 59 to the Vikings for 34, and with it, they have selected WR Christian Watson.

Watson was generally viewed as the top remaining receiver, after their was a surprising run at the position through the middle of the first round last night. Now, after much anticipation, Green Bay adds a high degree of upside to their WR room. Watson’s speed will likely help him fill the void left by Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Watson played four seasons at North Dakota State, saving his best year for last. He made 43 catches for 800 yards and seven touchdowns, which should give him an immediate role as a vertical threat in the Packers’ passing offense. With Sammy Watkins being the only other significant addition to the WR room so far, this deal of course doesn’t preclude the team from making further moves. At a minimum, they will exit the weekend with a new, noteworthy piece on offense.

Draft Notes: Remaining QBs, Jets, Vikings, Burks, Johnson

April 29th, 2022 at 5:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

One of the main storylines from last night’s first round was the fact that only one quarterback came off the board. The Steelers have their preferred choice in Kenny Pickett, but the other top options likely won’t have to wait long to hear their names called.

Jeff Howe of the Athletic reports (via Twitter) that “several teams” are trying to move up in the second round. As a result, there is “anticipation that a QB run could be on the way”. A number of teams could be interested in adding the likes of Malik Willis, Sam Howell, Desmond Ridder and Matt Corral as intriguing developmental options.

On that point, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer names the Titans, Falcons, Seahawks and Commanders as teams to watch for. He reports that “Ridder’s name has been consistently connected to Tennessee”, who now holds the 35th overall pick. The other teams have done significant work on signal-callers as well. Perhaps eyeing a passer, the Seahawks have made “exploratory calls” about moving up tonight, per CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson (Twitter link).

Here are some other notes looking back on last night:

  • The Jets, as it has been reported, were willing to part with the No. 10 pick for Deebo Samuel. They almost made a different deal with that selection, though, as detailed by ESPN’s Rich Cimini (on Twitter). New York wanted to swap with Seattle for No. 9 to avoid a team leapfrogging them to select Garrett Wilson. Both teams were able to successfully stand pat, ultimately getting Charles Cross and Wilson, respectively.
  • Not long after the top-10 was complete, the Vikings ceded the 12th overall pick to the Lions. With their second first-rounder, Detroit selected Jameson Williams, who may have been the pick at that spot had Minnesota kept it. Breer reports that the Alabama receiver “was very much in play ” for the Vikings, who added Lewis Cine and two Day 2 picks as a result of the deal.
  • Another of the top receivers to be taken last night was Treylon Burks, whom the Titans selected as a replacement for A.J. Brown. When speaking to Pat McAfee, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said the Arkansas alum “was the guy Aaron Rodgers wanted” (video link). With him off the board, the Packers extended their streak of not using a Round 1 pick on a wideout, but he reports that they are a candidate to trade up for one tonight (video link).
  • One of the most surprising fallers on Thursday night was pass rusher Jermaine Johnson II. Part of the reason he was still on the board for the Jets at No. 25, Breer notes, was poor interviews with teams in the pre-draft process. Thought by some as a top-10 pick, he ended up with the Jets anyway, and figures to serve as a notable boost to their pass rush.
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