Ryker Matthews

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 2/6/19

Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2019 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:

Los Angeles Rams

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

  • RB Martez Carter

AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Parker, Patriots, Gordon, Jets

The Dolphins have a big offseason ahead of them. They’ll have to make a very tough decision about Ryan Tannehill, but they have some other calls to make as well. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald took a look at some of their non-Tannehill related upcoming decisions recently, and wrote that receiver DeVante Parker almost certainly won’t be back at the $9.4MM salary he’s owed next season. He also writes about veteran pass-rusher Cameron Wake, who is set to be a free agent after this season, and notes that “the Dolphins told Wake’s camp early this past offseason that they wanted to extend him but nothing materialized.”

Wake will be turning 37 next month, and has seen his production drop off a bit this year with just 4.5 sacks compared to 10.5 a year ago. Jackson thinks the Dolphins will definitely want Wake back at a cheaper figure than his current $8MM salary, but is unsure whether Wake will be willing to take a dramatic pay-cut. It might be pretty small, but Jackson does “expect a Dolphins offer, at the very least.”

Here’s more from the AFC East:

  • The Patriots hosted a few players for workouts today. The team brought in LB Sam Eguavoen, T Ryker Matthews, and WR Tim Wilson, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN (Twitter link). Reiss notes these workouts were likely done with an eye toward 2019 and not this season, as Eguavoen and Matthews currently play in the CFL and aren’t eligible to be signed until after the season. Wilson was in training camp with the Eagles this summer.
  • “The Jets will go hard after Le’Veon Bell in free agency”, predicts Darryl Slater of NJ.com. Bell has been linked to New York a lot recently, and the fit would make sense with the Jets lacking a true number one running back and the fact that the big media market would fit Bell’s brand and personality. Isaiah Crowell was just placed on injured reserve and could very well be cut after this season. Slater also runs down some other potential Jets offseason moves, and thinks the team will be moving on from left guard James Carpenter and running back Bilal Powell. It sounds like it should be an offseason of change for the Jets, who seem almost certain to fire head coach Todd Bowles after the season.
  •  The Patriots should place a first round tender on Josh Gordon this offseason, argues Doug Kyed of NESN.com. Gordon is a restricted free agent after the year, and Kyed thinks that due to Gordon’s lengthy off-field history, no team will be willing to give up the first round pick they’d have to hand over to the Patriots if they wanted to sign him to an offer sheet. The Patriots could always gamble and tender him at a lower level to try to save money, but if they do that some other team could swoop in and sign Gordon to a massive offer sheet.

NFL Workout Notes: Bucs, Jags, Colts, Chargers

Before signing defensive back Major Wright earlier today, the Buccaneers also worked out fellow safeties Jeron Johnson and Duke Williams, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Johnson, a career special-teamer, signed a two-year deal to become a starter for the Redskins prior to the 2015 campaign, but flamed out after only one season. He signed on with the Chiefs but was cut this summer, and has been on the workout circuit ever since. Williams, meanwhile, had started 10 games over the past four years for Buffalo, but was waived to make room for Percy Harvin earlier this month.

Here’s more on today’s NFL auditions:

  • The Jaguars tried out three wide receivers on Monday, Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union tweets. DeAndre Carter (Sacramento State), Cayleb Jones (Arizona), and Mekale McKay (Cincinnati) all auditioned for Jacksonville. Jaguars receiver Allen Hurns left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury and didn’t return, so Jacksonville could be looking to add a bit of depth in the meantime.
  • Linebacker Beniquez Brown, cornerback Trae Elston, tight end Gabe Hughes, and quarterback Keith Wenning worked out for the Colts today, reports Howard Balzer of BalzerFootball.com (Twitter link). Indianapolis has been hit with injuries all over its roster, and Wenning, in particular, could be a safety net in case Andrew Luck suffers a setback in his recovery from a concussion.
  • The Chargers auditioned defensive backs Randall Evans and Solomon Means, tweets Balzer. San Diego is currently missing cornerback Brandon Flowers (concussion), while safety Jahleel Addae just returned on Sunday after recovering from a broken collarbone.
  • The Packers tried out offensive tackle Ryker Matthews today, per Balzer (Twitter link).

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/16/16

Friday’s minor moves:

  • The Bengals have made a couple of practice squad transactions, signing offensive lineman Trey Hopkins and cutting cornerback Tony McRae, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer (Twitter link). The Bengals cut Hopkins on Thursday, but his time away from the organization didn’t last long. McRae has spent time with both Oakland and Cincinnati since the ex-North Carolina A&T defender went undrafted during the spring.
  • The Bills have signed linebacker Bryson Albright to their practice squad, per Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News (Twitter link). Albright has shuffled in and out of the Buffalo organization since it signed him as an undrafted free agent from Miami of Ohio on May 2.
  • The Saints have waived offensive tackle Ryker Matthews from IR with an injury settlement, tweets Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate. Matthews, who signed with the Saints this year as an undrafted free agent from BYU, landed on IR on Aug. 1 with a knee injury.