XFL Draft Day 1 Fallout
The XFL’s two-day draft began Tuesday. In addition to certain quarterbacks being assigned to teams, several notable players went off the board in the rebooting league’s selection event.
The league divided its draft into sections. Skill-position players (and other quarterbacks) went in one portion of the draft, with offensive linemen going second and then select defenders in another section. Connor Cook was the first quarterback to go in the non-allocation portion of the draft, being selected by the Houston franchise at No. 2 overall.
Here are some recent NFL skill-position players taken:
- RB Christine Michael (No. 6 overall, St. Louis)
- WR Tommylee Lewis (No. 13, Dallas)
- WR Sammie Coates (No. 18, Houston)
- RB Cameron Artis-Payne (No. 20, Dallas)
- TE Jace Amaro (No. 26, Seattle)
- WR Keenan Reynolds (No. 39, Seattle)
- RB Matt Jones (No. 54, St. Louis)
- RB Lance Dunbar (No. 61, Dallas)
- QB Tyree Jackson (No. 65, Washington)
- RB Andre Williams (No. 66, Houston)
Here are the notable offensive linemen selected in that section of the draft:
- T Isaiah Battle (No. 2, Seattle)
- T Matt McCants (No. 3, St. Louis)
- T Kyle Murphy (No. 8, Washington)
- T Cyrus Kouandjio (No. 11, New York)
Lastly, some front-seven names of note came off in that part of this event:
- LB Ben Heeney (No. 7, New York)
- LB Hau’oli Kikaha (No. 8, Dallas)
- DT Sealver Siliga (No. 9, Dallas)
- LB Terence Garvin (No. 15, St. Louis)
- DL Tenny Palepoi (No. 30, Seattle)
- DE Jacquies Smith (No. 45, Seattle)
- LB Steven Johnson (No. 46, Seattle)
For a full team-by-team breakdown, Sporting News cataloged the first parts of this event.
NFL Workout Updates: 12/25/18
Today’s workouts, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):
Green Bay Packers
- TE: Evan Bayliss
Houston Texans
- LB: Cory James
San Francisco 49ers
- DE: Damontre Moore
Seattle Seahawks
- CB: Quinten Rollins; SS’s: Keith Tandy, Shamarko Thomas
Tennessee Titans
- DEs: Christian LaCouture, Kendall Vickers; DT: Dee Liner
Washington Redskins
- TE: Jace Amaro; Ts: Isaiah Battle, Cyrus Kouandjio, Darius James; DL: Kwaku Boateng (EDM CFL); QBs: Max Browne, Joe Callahan; LBs: Marquis Flowers, Hau’oli Kikaha, Corey Nelson, John Timu; WRs: Carlos Henderson, ArDarius Stewart, Tre McBride, Devin Smith.
NFL Workout Updates: 12/24/18
Today’s workouts, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):
Cincinnati Bengals:
- K’s Ty Long (BC CFL), Tristan Vizcaino
Detroit Lions:
- LSs Justin Drescher, Taybor Pepper, Zach Triner; TE Erik Swoope; RB Kerwynn Williams
Indianapolis Colts:
- S Harold Jones-Quartey; LB Chris Odom; WR Brian Quick; Julius Warmsley
Kansas City Chiefs:
- LB Josh Keyes, RB Terry Swanson
New York Giants:
- DEs Tobi Antigha (SASK), Jake Ceresna (EDM); QB Bo Levi Mitchell (CALG); WRs Bryant Mitchell (EDM), Jordan Williams-Lambert (SASK); RB Terry Williams
Philadelphia Eagles:
- WRs Carlton Agudosi, Marken Michel (CALG), Devin Smith; DB Mercy Maston (EDM); LBs Alex Singleton (CALG), Jameer Thurman (CALG)
Pittsburgh Steelers:
- QB Max Browne; LB Sam Eguavoen (SASK); DE Avery Ellis (OTT); WR Dominique Rhymes (OTT
Tennessee Titans:
- WRs Kaelin Clay, Kalif Raymond; LB Tyrone Holmes; RB Akeem Hunt; DE Hau’oli Kikaha; LB Anthony Winbush
Washington Redskins:
- QBs Max Browne and Joe Callahan, WRs Tre McBride and Carlos Henderson, TE Jace Amaro, OTs Isaiah Battle and Cyrus Kouandjio, DE Hau’oli Kikaha and LB Corey Nelson
This time of year, a lot of teams are auditioning guys for potential reserve/futures deals to be a part of their 90-man rosters for 2019. It’s also common to see a lot of CFL guys getting looks this time of year, because players participating in the 2018 CFL season aren’t eligible to sign NFL contracts until after the regular season is over.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/10/18
Here are today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: S Keith Tandy
- Waived: LS Jeff Overbaugh, CB Deante Burton
Denver Broncos
- Waived: WR Isaiah McKenzie
Green Bay Packers
- Released from IR: CB Quinten Rollins, RB Devante Mays
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE Jace Amaro
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: OL Jamil Demby
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: TE Gavin Escobar
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OG Bryan Witzmann
- Placed on IR: OT Aviante Collins
New England Patriots
- Waived: WR Riley McCarron, WR Chad Hansen
- Placed on IR: RB Jeremy Hill (full story)
Chiefs Cut Down To Final 53
In addition to David Amerson, the Chiefs will release longtime depth cog Frank Zombo.
The outside linebacker’s been in Kansas City since the Andy Reid regime began in 2013. He started 11 games in 2016, when Justin Houston missed most of the season with knee trouble, but will not be part of the 2018 team. The Chiefs drafted Breeland Speaks in the second round and plan to use 2017 second-rounder Tanoh Kpassagnon more extensively than they did last season.
Here’s the full list of players who won’t be on Kansas City’s initial 53-man roster.
Released:
- CB David Amerson
- DT Stefan Charles
- RB Kerwynn Williams
- TE Tim Wright
- OLB Frank Zombo
Waived:
- TE Jace Amaro
- WR Daniel Braverman
- FB Algernon Brown
- WR Jehu Chesson
- G Ethan Cooper
- WR Josh Crockett
- LB Raymond Davison
- WR Gehrig Dieter
- CB Makinton Dorleant
- DB Step Durham
- LB Ukeme Eligwe
- LB Tyrone Holmes
- T Ryan Hunter
- RB Ray Lowry
- DT Dee Liner
- QB Chase Litton
- WR Blake Mack
- LB Rob McCray
- DT T.Y. McGill
- S Leon McQuay
- C Jimmy Murray
- LB Otha Peters
- DT Mike Purcell
- CB Keith Reaser
- CB Will Redmond
- WR Jordan Smallwood
- T Bentley Spain
- DB Arrion Springs
- S Jordan Sterns
- DB D’Montre Wade
Placed on IR:
Suspended:
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/9/18
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2018 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Carolina Panthers
- TE Evan Baylis
- LB Richie Brown
- WR Austin Duke
- WR Jamaal Jones
- DE Efe Obada
- S Damian Parms
- CB Zack Sanchez
- S Dezmen Southward
- TE Kent Taylor
Cleveland Browns
- DL Collin Bevins
Kansas City Chiefs
- TE Jace Amaro
- RB George Atkinson
- WR Daniel Braverman
- WR Gehrig Dieter
- TE Anthony Firkser
- LB Tyrone Holmes
- G Kaleb Johnson
- T Dillon Gordon
- DT Mike Purcell
- CB Will Redmond
- T Andrew Wylie
New Orleans Saints
Oakland Raiders
- DB Shaquille Richardson
Philadelphia Eagles
- C Jon Toth
Washington Redskins
- DB Kenny Ladler
NFL Workout Updates: 12/4/17
Here’s today’s workout news from around the NFL:
Chicago Bears
- K Mike Nugent; TE’s Jace Amaro, Devon Cajuste, Gavin Escobar (via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune) (Twitter link)
Detroit Lions
-
WR’s Eric Rogers, Daikiel Shorts; C Freddie Burden; OG’s Darrell Greene, Ian Silberman; OT Taylor Hart (via Justin Rogers of the Detroit News ) (Twitter link)
Green Bay Packers
- WR Al Riles; C Parker Collins (via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
Bengals Work Out Four Tight Ends
With Tyler Eifert out for the season after opting to undergo back surgery last week, the Bengals got an up close look at a number of free agent tight ends today.
Cincinnati worked out veterans Larry Donnell, Jace Amaro, Gavin Escobar and John Phillips, tweets Adam Caplan of Sirius XM.
None of these options are particularly intriguing given the overall lack of production across the board, but it does show a pointed attempt to address a position that’s very much in flux with Eifert gone for the rest of the season.
Up to this point, the team has mostly relied on Tyler Kroft and C.J. Uzomah to take snaps in Eifert’s place. Kroft, 25, has been the more offensively productive of the two, having caught 14 balls for 139 yards and two scores, which both came in the team’s first victory of the year two weeks ago against the Browns.
The Bengals had a bye in Week 6, but will look to build on their current two-game winning streak when they travel to Pittsburgh to take on the AFC North division leading Steelers this coming Sunday.
NFC North Notes: Pack, Adams, Bears, Lions
Even after absorbing a violent hit from Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan last week, Packers wide receiver Davante Adams may be in line to play in Week 5, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Adams was taken to the hospital following the hit — which resulted in a two-game suspension for Trevathan — and thankfully escaped with only a concussion. If available, the 24-year-old Adams would be a boon to Green Bay’s offense against the Cowboys on Sunday, as he’s recorded 16 receptions, 219 yards, and two scores thus far in 2017.
Here’s more from the NFC North:
- The Bears‘ decision to start rookie Mitch Trubisky over Mike Glennon speaks to the No. 2 overall selection’s development this year, opines Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com. Trubisky, who started only 13 collegiate games before entering the NFL draft, was so raw that had to be taught how to take snaps under center in the spring, per Breer. But Trubisky has displayed so much improvement in the months since that Chicago formulated a plan to have the North Carolina product take starter’s practice reps in the fall. Of course, Glennon’s sub-par performance also made the Bears’ call a simple one, as the former Buccaneers ranks near the bottom of the league in nearly every quarterback metric.
- The Lions took a look at tight ends Jace Amaro, Gavin Escobar, Cory Harkey, and David Johnson and linebackers Akeem Ayers, Andrew Gachkar, and Spencer Paysinger, today, reports veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (Twitter link). Detroit’s linebacker auditions are particularly notable, as the club just lost base package starter Paul Worrilow to an MCL strain. All three of Ayers, Gachkar, and Paysinger appeared in at least 15 games a season ago, but were mostly relegated to special teams duty.
- Offensive tackles Andrew Wylie, Stephen Evans, and Storm Norton, plus running back Joel Bouagnon, worked out for the Packers on Tuesday, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Wylie went undrafted out of Eastern Michigan earlier this year, but signed with the Colts shortly thereafter. He took a spot on Indy’s practice squad until being waived in September. Bouagnon, too, is a rookie UDFA (Northern Illinois) who spent eight weeks with the Bears this summer.
- The Bears auditioned safety Jordan Moore yesterday, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Moore, a rookie undrafted free agent out of the University of Texas at San Antonio, signed with the Falcons earlier this year but has been on the workout circuit since August.
Chiefs Work Out Jace Amaro
The Chiefs worked out free agent tight end Jace Amaro on Thursday, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets.
The 25-year-old Amaro has been on the hunt for a third NFL employer since the Titans cut him Sept. 3. Amaro, formerly with Texas Tech, entered the league as a second-round pick of the Jets in 2014 and totaled 38 receptions and two touchdowns in his rookie season. The Jets cut him prior to Week 1 last year, though, and he went on to appear in just three of the Titans’ games in 2016, catching three passes for 59 yards.
If he signs with Kansas City, Amaro would vie for a role behind star tight end Travis Kelce. Demetrius Harris is the only one of Kelce’s backups who has been a factor at all in the Chiefs’ offense this year, having hauled in two of Alex Smith‘s throws for 15 yards.

