Seahwks Sign LB/DE Dadi Nicolas
The Seahawks have added a bit of depth along the edge by agreeing to terms with former Chief Dadi Nicolas, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Nicolas, 25, joined Kansas City as a sixth-round pick in 2016, and the Chiefs soon announced their intention to move him from defensive end to linebacker. The position switch never quite off the ground, however, as Nicolas appeared sparingly in 11 games during his rookie campaign before a ruptured patellar ended his season. He hasn’t seen the field since.
The Chiefs actually completed a trade involving Nicolas earlier this year, sending him to the Browns in exchange for tight end Randall Telfer. That deal was later voided, however, and though no specific reason was given, failed physicals are known to regularly cancel transactions. Cleveland and Kansas City subsequently waived their respective players, and Telfer failed a physical upon being claimed by the Colts.
At 6″3, 225 pounds, Nicolas could conceivably see time at either linebacker or defensive end, but given his collegiate work, it’s seems likely Nicolas will play on the edge in one way or another. He joins a Seahawks edge rushing crew that also includes Frank Clark, Dion Jordan, Marcus Smith, plus rookies Rasheem Green and Shaquem Griffin.
Seahawks Sign Rookie RB Rashaad Penny
The Seahawks have signed first-round running back Rashaad Penny, the club announced today.
Like every first-round pick, Penny has inked a four-year deal that includes a fifth-year option for the 2021 campaign. Per Over the Cap, Penny’s new contract should be worth roughly $10.765MM and come with a $5.909MM signing bonus. His 2017 cap charge will come in around $1.957MM.
Seattle traded back from No. 18 to No. 27 in the first round before selecting Penny, picking up an extra third-rounder in the process. Penny, a San Diego State product, should front the Seahawks’ backfield as the team attempts to reinstall the ground-and-pound approach that made them successful earlier this decade. Penny, who stands 5’11”, 220 pounds, posted a whopping 2,248 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns during his final collegiate season.
With Penny under contract, the Seahawks have only three members of its nine-man draft class unsigned: defensive end Rasheem Green, defensive end Shaquem Griffin, and defensive back Tre Flowers.
Seahawks To Sign Keenan Reynolds
The Seahawks are signing former Navy wide receiver/return man Keenan Reynolds, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Reynolds was selected in the sixth-round of the 2016 draft by the Ravens, but has yet to see the field in a regular season game. 
The Ravens kept Reynolds on the practice squad for much of the 2016 season but released him prior to the final cuts last year. In November, he hooked on with the Redskins’ taxi squad but was not retained with a futures contract.
Reynolds was a standout quarterback at Navy, but NFL clubs have viewed him as a wide receiver/kick returner in the past. Presumably, that’s how the Seahawks intend on using him if he makes the squad.
Reynolds finished fifth in Heisman voting in 2015 as he ran for 1,373 yards. Reynolds cleared 1,100 yards rushing in three of his collegiate seasons and averaged 4.7 yards per tote across four years. As a senior, he averaged 5.2 yards per carry.
The emergence of Reynolds prompted the Department of Defense to change its rules regarding the eligibility of its graduates in professional sports. However, the academies reverted back to the old rules in 2017.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/14/18
Today’s minor moves (so far):
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DT Siupeli Anau, WR C.J. Duncan, LB Airius Moore, OL Greg Pyke
- Waived: CB Elijah Battle, LB Mike Needham, OL Austin Olsen, WR Jonah Trinnaman
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DE Da’Sean Downey
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: FB Zach Olstad
- Waived/Injured: RB Aaron Green
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Bug Howard, C Kyle Friend, T/G Quinterrius Eatmon, DE Karter Schult
- Waived/Injured: CB Zack Sanchez
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Matt Fleming, DB John Franklin, DB Tyrin Holloway, OL Jeremi Hall, OL Matt McCants
- Waived: OL Travis Averill, OL Cameron Lee, LB Howard Jones, LB Nyles Morgan
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DT Chris Okoye, C Brand Lundblade, S Tyrice Beverette
- Waived: LB Oni Omoile, TE Scott Orndoff, CB Robenson Therezie
Cleveland Browns
- Signed DB Tigie Sankoh, QB Brogan Roback
Denver Broncos
- Waived: NT Lowell Lotulelei (Lotulelei is retiring, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic, on Twitter)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Deontez Alexander, TE Marcus Lucas, CB Josh Okonye
- Waived: WR Kyle Lewis
- Waived/Injured: TE Brandon Barnes
Houston Texans
- Placed on Reserve-Retired list: K.J. Malone
- Signed: T Kendell Calhoun, DE Nick Thurman
- Waived: WR Montay Crockett
- Waived/failure to disclose physical condition designation: DE Jalen Wilkerson
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OT Jared Machorro
- Waived: C Anthony Fabiano
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE Zach Conque, LB Manase Hungalu, OL Brandon Smith
- Waived: OL Avery Gennesy
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: QB Luis Perez
New England Patriots
- Signed: P Corey Bojorquez
- Waived/NFI: WR Darren Andrews
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OT Michael Ola
- Waived: LB Adam Bighill, OL Daronte Bouldin, S Rickey Jefferson, Bradley Sylve
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: S Dallin Leavitt, LS Drew Scott
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR/KR Tim Wilson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: G/T R.J. Prince
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Clayton Wilson
Washington Redskins
- Signed: C Casey Dunn, LB Vontae Diggs, WR Darvin Kidsy
- Waived: WR Mikah Holder, C Sean Welsh
Texans Claim QB Stephen Morris
Stephen Morris wasn’t out of work for long. After being waived by the Seahawks over the weekend, the Texans claimed the quarterback on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
Morris, 26 in August, becomes the fourth quarterback on Houston’s roster. He’ll provide the Texans with the fourth camp arm that they need, but he may also have a real shot at making the final cut as he goes against Brandon Weeden and Joe Webb for a backup spot behind starter Deshaun Watson.
Weeden’s one-year deal has just $230K in guaranteed cash while Webb’s only guarantee is his $90K signing bonus. If Morris outperforms either player, they won’t have second thoughts about keeping him over either veteran.
Morris has been with five different teams – the Jaguars, Eagles, Colts, Redskins, and Seahawks – since entering the league as a UDFA in 2014. He has yet to thrown an NFL pass, but that could change with club No. 6.
Seahawks Projected For Zero Compensatory Picks
- The Seahawks did lose several big-name free agents this offseason, including tight end Jimmy Graham, defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, and wideout Paul Richardson. However, as Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes, the organization isn’t expected to receive any compensatory picks in next year’s draft. Part of the reasoning has to do with the team’s free agent additions, as Seattle signed tight end Ed Dickson, wideout Jaron Brown, and linebacker Barkevious Mingo (thus offsetting the losses). The Seahawks may have gotten some compensation had offensive linemen Oday Aboushi and Luke Joeckel, running back Eddie Lacy, kicker Blair Walsh and linebacker Michael Wilhoite signed elsewhere, but the deadline for compensatory draft picks was on Wednesday.
[SOURCE LINK]
Extra Points: Kaepernick, Raiders, Greg Little, Cardinals
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider were deposed in the collusion grievance filed by Colin Kaepernick this week, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link).
Expanding on the subject, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio recounts that the “Seahawks were planning to bring in the quarterback for a workout, but the team canceled the session when Kaepernick declined to commit to stand for the national anthem.”
Despite the case, Carroll has not closed the door on the former 49ers quarterback joining the team. As Florio writes, however, “It would be awkward, to say the least, for Kaepernick to sign with Seattle after his lawyers questioned Schneider and Carroll under oath…”
Seattle is still the only team to have brought Kaepernick in for a visit since hitting free agency after the 2016 season. This long saga still appears to be far from a conclusion.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Earlier this week, the Raiders signed longtime Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson to a one-year deal. The details of that contract came out today, with the 13-year pro set to make $1.5MM. The contract includes a $200,000 signing bonus and $500,000 total guaranteed. With incentives, the deal could top out at $2.25MM, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets.
- Former Browns receiver Greg Little appeared at the Cardinals rookie minicamp, Kyle Odegard of azcardinals.com writes. Little, who hasn’t played a game since the 2014 season, was a promising second-round pick who flamed out after three seasons. The Cardinals offered the 28-year-old wideout a tryout this weekend and impressed new head coach Steve Wilks.
- ESPN’s Dan Graziano took a crack at projecting the next big-money quarterbacks. To no one’s surprise, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers tops the list in 2020, but the sides are expected to come to a deal before that time. Among the other signal-callers who could surpass Kirk Cousins‘ big deal are Russell Wilson, Carson Wentz and Jimmy Garoppolo.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/11/2018
Here are today’s minor moves:
Houston Texans
- Waived: DL Matthew Godin
New York Giants
- Waived: OT Laurence Gibson
Oakland Raiders
- Waived: P Colby Wadman
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: QB Stephen Morris
Washington Redskins
- Retired: OL Sean Welsh
Colts To Sign WR Kasen Williams
Former Seahawks and Browns wide receiver Kasen Williams will sign with the Colts, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. They will waive fellow wideout DeAndre Smelter to make roster room, per Schefter.
The Browns waived Williams shortly after the draft despite signing him to a reserve/futures contract in January. He’ll make his way to the Colts, who’ve been interested in the former UDFA for a bit now.
Indianapolis placed a waiver claim on Williams following a strong showing during the 2017 preseason, but Cleveland held higher waiver priority and won his rights after Seattle waived him. Now, the fourth-year wideout will attempt to make the Colts’ 53-man roster.
The Browns waived Williams last season but retained him for their practice squad. The University of Washington product caught nine passes for 84 yards in 2017. A 2015 49ers fourth-round pick out of Georgia Tech, Smelter has only seen action in two NFL games — both during the 2016 season. Smelter tore an ACL during his final season with the Yellowjackets and missed his rookie year. He finished 2016 on IR and despite not playing last season wound up with the Colts on a futures deal.
Seahawks Notes: Marshall, Maxwell
- Seahawks general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll have both denied that Seattle is entering a full-scale rebuild, and the club’s meeting with veteran wideout Brandon Marshall only verifies that stance, as Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times notes. While the Seahawks have shed a mass of talent this offseason by releasing or trading stalwarts such as Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett, and Cliff Avril, the club doesn’t intend to sacrifice its intention to compete. Marshall, of course, hasn’t been productive since 2015, but he’d add a physical element to a wide receiving depth chart that includes Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, and Jaron Brown.
- Byron Maxwell‘s new deal with the Seahawks has a base value of $2MM, reports Brady Henderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The veteran cornerback, who is now in his second stint with Seattle, will collect a $950K base salary, a $500K signing bonus, a $100K roster bonus paid if he makes the Seahawks’ 53-man roster, and up to $450K in per-game roster bonuses. Maxwell looks like the clear favorite to start at outside corner opposite Shaquill Griffin, but he’ll be pushed by Justin Coleman and free agent addition Dontae Johnson.