HEADLINES

Speedy Noil

Seahawks Sign Marcus Cromartie, Cut Troymaine Pope

May 31st, 2017 at 3:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

Marcus Cromartie signed with the Bills in April, but his stay in Buffalo concluded after barely a month. But the Seahawks made the decision to add the defensive back today, signing Cromartie and safety Jordan Simone, the team announced.

In doing so, Seattle cut running back Troymaine Pope and rookie UDFA wideout Speedy Noil. Pope was part of what’s become a deep cadre of running backs. Other cuts at that position will be coming in the ensuing summer months.

Cromartie caught on with the Bills in early April but was waived after the draft. The Seahawks are listing Cromartie as a safety here, so the 6-foot-1 cornerback might be in line for an official position switch. Cromartie has served as a depth player during his three-year career, playing in 21 games (with one start) for the 49ers from 2014-16. The 26-year-old defender was originally a UDFA out of Wisconsin.

Pope signed with the Seahawks last year as a UDFA, and after a stint with the Jets, returned to the team during the season. The Seahawks extended Pope an ERFA tender, which he signed in April. Pope earned a promotion from the Hawks’ practice squad in November but went on IR in December. Eddie Lacy joining the Seahawks adds to a roster housing Thomas Rawls, C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins and recent waiver claim Mike Davis.

An Arizona State product, Simone was a Seahawks tryout player earlier this month. Noil caught on with the team in May after a successful tryout.

Minor NFC Transactions: 5/15/17

May 15th, 2017 at 5:49pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, we rounded up some minor moves out of the AFC. In the interest of equal time, we turn our attention to the NFC:

  • The Rams signed two Northwestern State alums in wide receiver Shakeir Ryan and running back De’Mard Llorens, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports. In addition to the skill-position talents from the Natchitoches, Louisiana-based program, the Rams added another small-school product in Mary Hardin-Baylor linebacker Teidrick Smith. The two Division I-FCS talents and Division III defender will displace two Rams in defensive back Jared Collins and offensive lineman Shaq McMeans, per Gonzalez. Their roster currently houses 89 players.
  • Former Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas signed with the Saints, who also added guard Josh LeRibeus and running back Trey Edmunds, Nick Underhill of The Advocate reports. The 5-foot-11 Thomas operated as a dual-threat quarterback with the Yellowjackets and probably would convert positions for an NFL opportunity. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a sophomore in the program’s run-centric offense and threw for 18 touchdown passes that season. In the two subsequent slates, Thomas combined to throw 21 TDs. The son of former Dolphins Pro Bowl tight end Ferrell Edmunds, Trey Edmunds served as a reserve at Virginia Tech and Maryland.
  • On a busy Monday, the Saints signed Drew Iddings, a source tells Underhill (on Twitter). Iddings, a former defensive lineman, will be trying to stick as an offensive guard. The 6-foot-6, 290-pound athlete has no significant experience on offense, but New Orleans believes that the powerful lineman can make a smooth transition. In college at South Dakota, Iddings appeared in 46 games and totaled 149 tackles and eight sacks.
  • The Seahawks cut quarterback Skyler Howard and fullback Brandon Cottom and signed fullback Kyle Coleman and wide receiver Speedy Noil, per a team announcement. Noil entered the draft early out of Texas A&M. He caught just 42 passes combined the past two seasons.
  • Giants signed wide receiver Kevin Snead, a Carson-Newman product, after his tryout. Snead, a former track star, reportedly ran a sub-4.3-second 40-yard-dash. To make room, the team waived offensive lineman Martin Wallace.
  • The Lions have signed free agent offensive tackle Arturo Uzdavinis and waived tackle Pierce Burton.
  • The Vikings signed guard Freddie Tagaloa after a successful rookie minicamp tryout, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets.
  • The Cardinals signed wide receiver Larry Clark.