Bryce Quigley

North Notes: Archer, Lions, Suh, Pouncey

Bengals first-round cornerback Darqueze Dennard signed his contract with Cincinnati earlier this afternoon, as did Packers second-round receiver Davante Adams. According to Field Yates of ESPN Boston (Twitter link), one more player out of the NFL’s North divisions also inked his rookie deal today — Steelers third-round running back Dri Archer. The move leaves Pittsburgh with one draft pick left to lock up, in second-round defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt.

Here’s more from around the two North divisions:

  • Ndamukong Suh and the Lions have had “intermittent” contract talks since the owners’ meetings this spring, but the club’s minicap ended today without a new agreement in place between the two sides, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. In order to finalize the signing of first-round tight end Eric Ebron, the Lions will have to either restructure Suh’s deal or rework other smaller contracts.
  • The Lions worked out former San Diego State offensive tackle Bryce Quigley today, tweets Birkett. Quigley went undrafted last month.
  • The Steelers held a press conference today to announce Maurkice Pouncey‘s new contract extension, and the standout center told reporters, including Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Twitter link), that the possibility of testing free agency was “never on [his] mind,” particularly after last year’s knee injury.
  • Browns cornerback Buster Skrine vows to fight every step of way to remain starter despite arrival of Justin Gilbert, write Nate Ulrich and George Thomas of the Akron Beacon-Journal. Of course, from the outside, the eighth-overall pick out of Oklahoma State looks like the leading candidate to start opposite of Joe Haden.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Chargers Sign Nine To Futures Contracts

JANUARY 6TH: The Chargers announced that they have signed quarterback Brad Sorensen to a reserve/futures deal, according to Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego (on Twitter). Sorensen, 26, was drafted 221st overall in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Chargers. San Diego cut him in August, but signed him to the taxi squad in December.

DECEMBER 30TH, 5:40pm: The Chargers have also added guard Craig Watts to the list, according to Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego (via Twitter).

DECEMBER 29TH, 6:42pm: The Chargers announced that they have signed eight players to reserve/futures contracts today. Here’s the full list, courtesy of ESPN.com’s Eric Williams (on Twitter):

All eight players were signed off of the Bolts’ taxi squad. Quarterback Brad Sorensen was the only player signed to the practice squad at season’s end that was not inked to a futures deal.