Seahawks Finish Draft Pick Signings
The Seahawks have completed the signing of their rookie class, according to reports from Seahawks senior reporter John Boyle. The team had already signed six of their draft picks and 16 undrafted free agents. Now, with these final two contracts getting inked, Seattle can move on to other offseason activities.
Third-round offensive guard Christian Haynes was the first to sign this morning. In his six years at UConn, Haynes was a four-year starter for the Huskies, redshirting his first season in 2018 and seeing his 2020 season cancelled due to COVID-19. He played exclusively at right guard in Connecticut, which sets him up perfectly for a position battle as a rookie.
Between tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas, both of whom were acquired in the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Seahawks have a recent history of rookies starting on the offensive line. Last year’s rookie fourth-round pick Anthony Bradford was another such example, starting 10 games at right guard in 2023, but Haynes will have the opportunity to push Bradford for the job this summer.
Sixth-round offensive tackle Michael Jerrell isn’t likely to get the same opportunities. Cross and Lucas are firmly entrenched as Seattle’s starters, but Jerrell, a small-school lineman with quickness, length, and toughness, projects as an intriguing developmental piece in the NFL.
This concludes the Seahawks’ eight-man draft class. The eight players are:
- Round 1, No. 16: Byron Murphy (DT, Texas) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 81 (from Saints through Broncos): Christian Haynes (G, UConn)
- Round 4, No. 118: Tyrice Knight (LB, UTEP) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 121 (from Dolphins through Broncos): AJ Barner (TE, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 136 (from Panthers through Browns and Broncos): Nehemiah Pritchett (CB, Auburn) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 179 (from Commanders): Sataoa Laumea (G, Utah) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 192: DJ James (CB, Auburn) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 207 (from 49ers through Broncos): Michael Jerrell (T, Findlay)
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/14/24
Teams continue to sign their draft picks to rookie contracts. We’ve collected today’s miscellaneous signings below:
Chicago Bears
- OT Kiran Amegadjie (third round, Yale)
Cincinnati Bengals
- WR Jermaine Burton (third round, Alabama)
- TE Erick All (fourth round, Iowa)
Denver Broncos
- EDGE Jonah Elliss (third round, Utah)
Indianapolis Colts
- WR Anthony Gould (fifth round, Oregon State)
Minnesota Vikings
- OT Walter Rouse (sixth round, Oklahoma)
New York Giants
- CB Dru Phillips (third round, Kentucky)
Seattle Seahawks
- CB Tyrice Knight (fourth round, UTEP)
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/13/24
Front offices around the NFL continue to chip away at their draft pick signings. That was no exception today, as a number of teams inked players to rookie contracts:
Cincinnati Bengals
- DE Cedric Johnson (sixth round, Mississippi)
Indianapolis Colts
- OT Matt Goncalves (third round, Pittsburgh)
- C Tanor Bortolini (fourth round, Wisconsin)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- CB Jarrian Jones (third round, Florida State)
- OT Javon Foster (fourth round, Missouri)
- DT Jordan Jefferson (fourth round, LSU)
- CB Deantre Prince (fifth round, Ole Miss)
- RB Keilan Robinson (fifth round, Texas)
- K Cam Little (sixth round, Arkansas)
- DE Myles Cole (seventh round, Texas Tech)
New York Jets
- RB Braelon Allen (fourth round, Wisconsin)
- QB Jordan Travis (fifth round, Florida State)
- RB Isaiah Davis (fifth round, South Dakota State)
- CB Qwan’tez Stiggers (fifth round, Toronto Argonauts)
- S Jaylen Key (seventh round, Alabama)
Philadelphia Eagles
- EDGE Jalyx Hunt (third round, Houston Christian)
- RB Will Shipley (fourth round, Clemson)
- WR Ainias Smith (fourth round, Texas A&M)
Seattle Seahawks
- TE AJ Barner (fourth round, Michigan)
- CB Nehemiah Pritchett (fifth round, Auburn)
- G Sataoa Laumea (sixth round, Utah)
- CB DJ James (sixth round, Auburn)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- TE Devin Culp (seventh round, Washington)
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/13/24
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: TE Ross Dwelley
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Cam Gill, DL T.J. Smith
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR John Jackson, DT Dashaun Mallory, LB Paul Moala, WR Freddie Swain
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Kaden Davis, TE Parker Hesse
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers (from 49ers): DL Spencer Waege
- Placed on reserve/retired list: OL Trente Jones
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: LB Cole Christiansen
- Released: DT Matt Dickerson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DL Chris Collins
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: OL Ireland Brown, CB Jason Maitre
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: TE Sammis Reyes
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Terrell Jennings, G Ryan Johnson, LB Jay Person, DE Jotham Russell
- Waived: RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Kendal Vickers
- Waived: NT John Penisini
New York Giants
- Signed: DL Elijah Chatman
- Waived: OLB Jeremiah Martin
New York Jets
- Signed: WR Hamze El-Zayat, RB Markese Stepp
- Waived: RB Jacques Patrick, DE Marquiss Spencer
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Shon Stephens
- Waived: TE Noah Togiai
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: OL Kellen Diesch
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DL Shakel Brown
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DE Nathan Pickering, LB Devin Richardson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: TE Nick Vannett
NFL Workouts: Jones, Ward, Summers, Tagovailoa
Veteran wide receiver Zay Jones continues to make the rounds after getting released by the Jaguars last week. Since then, the 29-year-old pass catcher has taken visits with the Titans, Cardinals, and Cowboys. The newest report has Jones scheduling a visit with the Chiefs tomorrow, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
An impressive 2022 campaign that saw Jones catch 82 balls for 823 yards and five touchdowns, all career highs except for the touchdowns, was virtually erased by a disappointing 2023 campaign in which the receiver missed eight games due to a PCL issue and femur damage. The Jaguars opted not to finish out Jones’ final season of a three-year contract, for which Jones would have represented a $6.57MM cap charge.
In Kansas City, Jones could be a part of a completely new-look wide receiving corps for Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs have added Marquise Brown in free agency and Texas first-round rookie Xavier Worthy in the draft. They also return Rashee Rice, Justin Watson, Skyy Moore, and Noah Gray from last year, but Rice could be facing some legal trouble, and if healthy, Jones would be an improvement over the other three while playing alongside Brown and Worthy.
Here are a few other workouts happening around the NFL:
- Career depth running back Jonathan Ward is participating in the Steelers rookie minicamp, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Over four years with the Cardinals and Titans, Ward only has 69 career rushing yards on 17 carries. He’s proven to be an active special teams contributor during that time, though.
- The Broncos took a look at veteran linebacker Ty Summers at their rookie minicamp this past weekend, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS. Summers only has one career start over five years with the Packers, Jaguars, and Saints but has appeared in 71 games over that span. A linebacker with some speed, Summers is a productive special teamer, as well.
- After agreeing to participate in the Seahawks’ rookie minicamp, undrafted Maryland quarterback, and brother of the Dolphins’ starting passer, Taulia Tagovailoa will attend the Cardinals‘ rookie minicamp this week, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The rookie will audition to join last year’s fifth-round pick Clayton Tune and 2022’s third-round pick for Atlanta Desmond Ridder as potential backup arms for Kyler Murray in 2024.
- An undrafted linebacker who graduated from Harvard before playing as a graduate transfer at Villanova, Daniel Abraham has been invited to minicamps for both the Falcons and the Seahawks, per Wilson. The speedy linebacker obviously poses some interest due to both his athleticism and his intellect.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/8/24
Wednesday’s minor transactions in the NFL:
Green Bay Packers
- Waived from injured reserve (with injury settlement): WR Thyrick Pitts
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: DT Spencer Waege
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: QB Chevan Cordeiro
Seahawks’ GM, HC Discuss Byron Murphy Pick; Team Not Expected To Trade From DL Group
MAY 8: The Rams also made an offer for the Seahawks’ No. 16 pick, according to Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline. Los Angeles, which also attempted to trade up higher for Brock Bowers, is believed to have been targeting Murphy. The Eagles’ interest stemmed from a fear they would lose Quinyon Mitchell had they not traded up. Mitchell ended up falling to Philly at No. 22, while the Rams went with Florida State D-lineman Jared Verse at No. 19.
MAY 5: Going into this year’s draft, guard was arguably the Seahawks’ biggest need. And as ESPN’s Brady Henderson writes, Seattle had targeted Alabama’s JC Latham, who was selected by the Titans with the No. 7 overall pick (the ‘Hawks would have slid Latham, a collegiate tackle, to the interior of their O-line, at least in the early stages of his pro career).
[RELATED: Murphy Signs Rookie Deal]
A number of this year’s top defensive prospects fell lower than expected due to an unprecedented run on offensive talent. When the Seahawks were on the clock with the No. 16 pick, only one defensive player, UCLA edge defender Laiatu Latu, was off the board, and he went to the Colts at No. 15. That left Texas DT Byron Murphy II available for Seattle, whom the team saw as the best defender in the 2024 class. The ‘Hawks ultimately turned in the card for the former Longhorn.
As offensive players were flying off the board, the Seahawks — who did not have a second-round choice — were fielding trade offers that would have allowed them to move down the board and pick up additional draft capital in the process. Per Henderson, the ‘Hawks received offers from the Steelers, Eagles, Vikings, and Falcons (who were trying to trade back into the first round after surprisingly drafting QB Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 choice). The Packers were also interested in acquiring Seattle’s No. 16 selection, but Green Bay ultimately did not make an offer.
With Murphy still available but with Leonard Williams, Jarran Reed, Dre’Mont Jones, Johnathan Hankins, and several recent draftees already on the roster, GM John Schneider was tempted to trade back. However, Seattle is not in rebuild mode, and Schneider felt that Murphy was too good to pass up.
“I’d be lying to you if I said we didn’t think about [trading back],” Schneider said. “But [Murphy], he was just too good. He influences the game, like a lot. He’s got that ability to jump off the ball and get up field. He can play edges, he can play square, he can rush the passer inside, he gets up and down the line of scrimmage.”
New head coach Mike Macdonald added, “he just plays our style of football, really. And then he’s so talented. Versatility along the front, such an aggressive player, plays violently, heavy hands for a guy [of] shorter stature, flexible, pass-rush flexibility — you name it. Yeah, just really excited to have him.”
With all of the D-linemen on the roster and the Seahawks’ shortage of cap space — per OverTheCap.com, Seattle is the only team in the red as of the time of this writing — it would be fair to expect the club to deal from its DL surplus. However, Henderson said the team has no such plans, especially since Macdonald intends to rotate his players more frequently than his predecessor, Pete Carroll.
In related news, the team is expected to have outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu back for training camp, per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. Nwosu, who recorded 9.5 sacks in his first Seattle slate in 2022, suffered a pectoral strain in October and missed the remainder of the 2023 campaign. He is under contract through 2026 by virtue of the three-year, $45MM extension he signed in July.
Seahawks, CB Michael Jackson Agree To Revised Deal
Michael Jackson was among the players tendered as a restricted free agent by the Seahawks this offseason. The veteran corner recently signed his RFA tender, valued at just over $3MM. 
Jackson and the team have worked out a new arrangement, however. Per ESPN’s Brady Henderson, Jackson will now receive a base salary of $1.06MM in 2024, a figure which is not guaranteed. The 27-year-old will collect a $168K signing bonus, however, increasing his up front compensation compared to what it previously was. This agreement will create $1.89MM in cap space – notable breathing space given the team’s lack of financial wiggle room entering Monday.
A fifth-round pick of the Cowboys in 2019, Jackson actually made his regular season debut with the Lions that year. He then spent a single season in New England before beginning his Seahawks tenure. The Miami alum has made 36 appearances with Seattle, and in 2022 he served as a full-time starter. That year, Jackson recorded 75 tackles, one interception and 12 pass deflections while allowing a completion percentage of just under 56%.
In 2023, however, the arrival of fifth overall pick Devon Witherspoon led to a sharp decrease in Jackson’s playing time. The latter saw his defensive snap share fall from 94% to 40%, and it yielded a fall-off in production. Jackson will nevertheless have the opportunity to play at least a rotational role in the Seahawks’ secondary in 2024.
Seattle re-signed Artie Burns this offseason, and the team used two draft picks (Nehemiah Pritchett in the fifth round, followed by DJ James in the sixth) on cornerbacks. Jackson will thus have plenty of competition for playing time this summer as he prepares for a fourth season in the Emerald City.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/5/24
The only minor moves to close out the week:
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Julian Hicks, C Lecitus Smith, WR Dimitri Stanley
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Buddha Jones
Some undrafted rookies may not get signed to three-year, undrafted free agent contracts but will, instead, be invited to rookie minicamps on a tryout basis. Such is the case for Hicks, Stanley, and Jones. Both the Packers and Seahawks had already announced the signings of their UDFA classes, but both will now add to that rookie group.
Rookie minicamps also serve as an audition opportunity for some veteran free agents. Smith joins the aforementioned three rookies as players who earned a deal taking advantage of a rookie minicamp tryout opportunity.
Seahawks Sign 16 UDFAs
The Seahawks front office has had a busy week. In addition to signing first-round defensive tackle Byron Murphy to his rookie contract, the organization has added 16 undrafted rookies to the roster:
- Sunny Anderson, LB (Grambling State)
- Nelson Ceaser, DL (Houston)
- Chevan Cordeiro, QB (San Jose State)
- Easton Gibbs, LB (Wyoming)
- Garret Greenfield, OT (South Dakota State)
- Hayden Hatten, WR (Idaho)
- George Holani, RB (Boise State)
- Carlton Johnson, CB (Fresno State)
- DeVere Levelston, DE (SMU)
- Kobe Lewis, RB (Florida Atlantic)
- Mike Novitsky, C (Kansas)
- Ro Torrence, CB (Arizona State)
- Jack Westover, TE (Washington)
- Dee Williams, WR (Tennessee)
- Rason Williams II, LB (Louisiana Tech)
- TaMerik Williams, RB (North Dakota State)
A handful of Seattle’s UDFAs earned notable bonuses. After compiling 2,993 yards and 21 touchdowns at Boise State over the past three years, running back George Holani got a $15K signing bonus and $100K of his base salary guaranteed, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Elsewhere on offense, Jack Westover earned a $25K signing bonus and $50K guaranteed on his salary, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. The Washington tight end was a productive member of the offense over the past two years, hauling in 77 catches for 775 yards and five touchdowns. South Dakota State offensive lineman Garret Greenfield got the most guaranteed money of the bunch. Wilson notes that the rookie got $195K in guaranteed money, including a $20K signing bonus.
On the other side of the ball, the Seahawks paid of a pair of undrafted defensive linemen. After collecting 17 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss in three seasons at Houston, Nelson Ceaser got $110K guaranteed, including a $10K signing bonus, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson. Grambling State’s Sunny Anderson got the same guarantees to catch on with Seattle, per Wilson.