NFL Workout Updates: 9/8/17
Today’s NFL workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter unless otherwise noted:
Atlanta Falcons
- QBs Garrett Grayson and Mitch Leidner (link)
Carolina Panthers
- T Korren Kirven (link)
Detroit Lions
- QB Joel Stave; WR Malachi Dupre; OTs Landon Lechler and Givens Price; DT Taylor Harris; S James Sample (Twitter links)
Green Bay Packers
- G Darrell Greene; OTs Cornelius Lucas and Jeremiah Poutasi; DE Jhaustin Thomas (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- RB Kenjon Barner (link)
Kansas City Chiefs
- DB Akeem King (link)
New England Patriots
- WR Gabe Marks; TE Ryan O’Malley (Twitter links via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New York Jets
- RB Cyrus Gray; TE Nick Truesdell; C Erik Austell; G Brandon Thomas; WRs K.J. Brent, Bug Howard, and Domonique Young; TE Robert Tonyan; DE Tyrone Holmes; DT Caraun Reid; LB Vontarrius Dora; CBs Elie Bouka, Jarnor Jones, Damian Swann, and Robert Nelson; S Trey Caldwell and K.J. Dillon (Twitter links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Philadelphia Eagles
- DBs De’Vante Bausby, Elie Bouka, Trey Caldwell, and Jarnor Jones (link)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- DE Jonathan Woodard; CBs Chris Humes and Sammy Seamster (link)
Tennessee Titans
- DB JaCorey Shepherd (link)
Lions Set 53-Man Roster
The Lions have met the NFL’s 53-man maximum requirement by making the following transactions:
Traded:
- CB Johnson Bademosi (story)
Released:
Waived:
- LB Thurston Armbrister
- CB Adairius Barnes
- WR Jace Billingsley
- S Alex Carter
- DT Ego Ferguson
- WR Dontez Ford
- QB Brad Kaaya (story)
- C Leo Koloamatangi
- TE Khari Lee
- DT Derrick Lott
- DT Caushaud Lyons
- S Rolan Milligan
- T Storm Norton
- DE Pat O’Connor
- TE Scott Orndoff
- WR Michael Rector
- WR Noel Thomas
- CB Josh Thornton
- TE Robert Tonyan
- TE Cole Wick
- LB Antwione Williams (story)
Suspended:
- DE Armonty Bryant
- DT Khyri Thornton
Placed on non-football injury list:
Placed physically unable to perform list:
Lions Sign LB Jarrad Davis
The Lions announced that they have signed eight of their nine draft picks, plus 14 undrafted free agents. The complete list:
Draft Signings:
- 1-21: Jarrad Davis, LB (Florida)
- 2-53: Teez Tabor, CB (Florida)
- 4-124: Jalen Reeves-Maybin, LB, Tennessee
- 4-127: Michael Roberts, TE (Toledo)
- 5-165: Jamal Agnew, DB (San Diego)
- 6-205: Jeremiah Ledbetter, DT (Arkansas)
- 6-215: Brad Kaaya, QB (Miami)
- 7-250: Pat O’Connor, DE (Eastern Michigan)
UDFAs:
- Brandon Barnes, TE (Alabama State)
- Alex Barrett, DE (San Diego State)
- Dontez Ford, WR (Pittsburgh)
- Tion Green, RB (Cincinnati)
- Nick James, DT (Mississippi State)
- Leo Koloamatangi, OL (Hawaii)
- Desmond Lawrence, CB (North Carolina)
- Storm Norton, OT (Toledo)
- Michael Rector, WR (Stanford)
- Maurice Swain, DT (Auburn)
- Noel Thomas, WR (UConn)
- Josh Thornton, CB (Southern Utah)
- Robert Tonyan, TE (Indiana State)
- Jeremiah Valoaga, DE (UNLV)
As far as draft picks go, Northern Illinois wide receiver Kenny Golladay is the only player that has yet to put pen to paper. The reason for the delay is not known, but third round picks often take longer to sign than other picks as things are less rigid in those slots.
Davis was said to be a target of the Dolphins at No. 22, so it’s a good thing that the Lions were up at No. 21. Davis impressed scouts at his Pro Day when he posted a 4.56 40-yard dash and 38.5 inch vertical jump. As shown on Roster Resource, Davis may be in for a starting role in 2017.
Tabor fell to the Lions at No. 53 but some draft analysts, like NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, felt that he should have gone much higher. The Florida product suffered a hamstring injury during his workout with Detroit and was unable to audition for other teams, so that might explain why he was still available. Then again, we’ve seen “pretend injuries” before, so it’s possible there was a wink-wink deal between Tabor’s team and the Lions.
Kaaya was said to have one of the highest football IQs of any quarterback in this year’s class. It remains to be seen whether he has the arm to make it as an NFL quarterback, but the Lions believe that he can be a solid backup QB, at minimum.
According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (on Twitter), Valoaga got $22K guaranteed ($12K bonus, $10K base) to sign with Detroit. Typically, UDFAs get around $5K, so that’s a sign that Valoaga had at least a few teams interested in adding him to the 90-man roster.