Luke Rhodes

Colts Extend LS Luke Rhodes

While it may not be the long-term agreement Colts fans were hoping to see, the team got a big deal done today, extending veteran long snapper Luke Rhodes for an additional four years, according to Colts.com writer JJ Stankevitz. The new deal reportedly makes Rhodes the highest-paid player at his position in the NFL.

On an extremely young team, Rhodes is the second-longest tenured player in Indianapolis, trailing only center Ryan Kelly. Since signing with the Colts’ practice squad as an undrafted linebacker midway through his rookie season, Rhodes has played in 101 games after switching positions. Over his seven years in the NFL, Rhodes has been extremely reliable, only missing one game in his career.

This is Rhodes’ second tenure as the league’s highest-paid long snapper. After signing an exclusive rights tender with the Colts for the 2018 season, Rhodes signed a four-year, $4.85MM contract extension the next summer to become the top-paid long snapper in the NFL at that time. Rhodes immediately provided a strong return on investment by earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2020 and first-team All-Pro honors in 2021, getting voted to the Pro Bowl that year, as well.

With the new deal, Rhodes avoids playing out his contract year. He’ll now be under contract through the 2027 season with his four-year, $6.47MM extension. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the deal has a guaranteed amount of $2.5MM with his 2023 base salary (worth $1.2MM) now fully guaranteed. He’ll also receive a signing bonus of $1.1MM.

With Rhodes locked down, the team can now continue working on other contracts set to expire. Colts fans will be relieved to hear that, but they should also recognize the significance of extending Rhodes for four more years.

NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/4/22-1/5/22

Here are Tuesday and Wednesday’s activations from and placements on the reserve/COVID-19 lists:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Jared Cook, LB Damon Lloyd (remains on IR)

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 12/31/21

Here are the New Year’s Eve additions and subtractions from teams’ reserve/COVID-19 lists:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

  • Activated from practice squad virus list: T Drew Himmelman, LB Barrington Wade

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

Colts Sign Luke Rhodes To Extension

The Colts have signed long snapper Luke Rhodes to a contract extension, according to a team announcement. It’s a four-year, $4.85MM contract extension that will make him the highest-paid long snapper in NFL history, a source tells Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). The deal also includes $1.25MM in guarantees. 

[RELATED: Colts’ Antonio Garcia Suspended By NFL]

Rhodes signed his exclusive rights tender March 19, giving the team some time to work out a brand new pact. It marks a big pay bump for Rhodes, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent at the linebacker position.

Rhodes has played in 36 games for the Colts since joining the team in 2016 and has appeared in all 32 games since switching over to LS in 2017.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/20/19

Today’s minor moves:

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

  • Waived: WR Jimmy Williams

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

New York Giants

New York Jets

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/14/18

Here are today’s restricted free agent and exclusive-rights free agent tender decisions, with the list being updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:

RFAs

Tendered at the second-round level ($2.914MM):

Tendered at original round level ($1.907MM):

Non-tendered:

ERFAs

Tendered:

Non-tendered:

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/7/2016

Today’s minor moves:

  • The Browns announced that they have signed safety Trae Elston and placed rookie safety Derrick Kindred (foot) on the reserve/non-football injury list. Kindred has had an up-and-down season for Cleveland, compiling 49 tackles and five passes defended. Elston, an undrafted rookie out of Mississippi, previously spent time with the Buccaneers and Saints.
  • The Colts announced that they have elevated rookie inside linebacker Luke Rhodes to the active roster. The William & Mary product had been on the team’s practice squad since early October.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/5/16

Today’s practice squad moves:

Baltimore Ravens

  • Signed: WR Kenny Bell

Chicago Bears

  • Signed: TE Rory Anderson

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed: TE E.J. Bibbs (Twitter link via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com)

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: LB Luke Rhodes (Twitter link via Mich Chappell of CBS4)

Minnesota Vikings

  • Signed: TE Brian Leonhardt
  • Cut: CB Tre Roberson (Twitter link via Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star Tribune)

New England Patriots

  • Signed: G Chase Farris (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss)
  • Cut: LB Quentin Gause

Oakland Raiders

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed: LB Josh Keyes

NFL Workout Updates: 9/6/16

A couple NFC South teams held large tryout sessions today, and the Saints ended up signing a player — veteran corner Sterling Moore — after he auditioned for them earlier today. Let’s take a look at some more news from the workout front:

  • Facing a kicker crisis, the Giants worked out placekickers Cody Parkey, Shayne Graham, and Aldrick Rosas today, reports Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com, though New York is unlikely to sign anyone from the group, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY (Twitter link). Per Raanan, the Giants also worked out a large group of offensive lineman that included Vlad Ducasse, Mackenzy Bernadeau.
  • The Patriots worked out the following defensive backs today (via Doug Kyed of NESN on Twitter): Mike Hilton, Trae Elston, Stefan McClure, JaCorey Shepherd, Kevin Short. New England was trying out players for the final spot on its practice squad, and Hilton ultimately earned the job.
  • The Jaguars worked out former Houston inside linebacker Reshard Cliett today, according to a source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). The fast former South Florida standout was let go by Houston prior to the 53-man cut. Jacksonville also worked out linebacker Luke Rhodes today, but they didn’t offer him a deal right away, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets.
  • Former Cincinnati receiver Mekale McKay was part of a Buccaneers’ workout earlier today, and he’ll next try out for the Patriots on Wednesday, according to Auman (Twitter link).
  • The Packers auditioned defensive tackle Rodney Coe today, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Coe participated in training camp with the Cowboys.