NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/13/20
We’ll keep track of today’s mid- to late-round signings here:
- The Texans and third-round pick Jonathan Greenard have come to terms, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The former Louisville and Florida linebacker was tangentially involved in some draft-day drama between Houston and the Lions, as the Texans reportedly believed they had a deal in place to send the No. 90 pick to Detroit only to have the Lions back out at the last moment (which the Lions vehemently deny). The Texans kept the pick and selected Greenard, who posted 10 sacks in his final collegiate season and who hopes to become a part of Houston’s pass-rushing rotation. Greenard’s four-year deal is worth about $4.5MM and includes a signing bonus of roughly $900K.
- The Colts have signed sixth-round choice Isaiah Rodgers, per Josh Alper of PFT. Rodgers, a UMass product, will battle for a spot on Indianapolis’ cornerback depth chart and on the clubs’ special teams unit. He is set to earn $3.44MM over the course of his four-year deal, which includes a $145K signing bonus.
- The Titans inked fifth-round pick Larrell Murchison, per a club announcement. Murchison, an NC State product, made a name for himself as a disruptor on the defensive line after transferring over from a JUCO program.
Contract Details: Jets, Charlton, Gipson
Some assorted contract details to pass along:
- Tashaun Gipson, S (Bears): One year. Deal is worth $1.05MM, including $550K in guaranteed money. Via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter.
- Johnathan Joseph, CB (Titans): One year. Deal is worth $2MM, including $1.5MM guaranteed. Additional $500K in “reachable incentives” and another $750K in standard incentives. Contract worth a maximum of $3.25MM. Via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com on Twitter and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network on Twitter.
- Frank Gore, RB (Jets): One year. Deal is worth $1.05MM, including $200K guaranteed. Cap charge of $750K. Via Pelissero on Twitter and ESPN’s Rich Cimini on Twitter.
- Jordan Jenkins, LB (Jets): One-year. Deal is worth $3.75MM. $3.25MM in guaranteed money, including $1.75MM signing bonus and $1.5MM base salary. $500K in roster bonuses, $250K in “likely to be earned” incentives. Via Cimini on Twitter.
- Taco Charlton, DE (Chiefs): One year. Deal is worth $825K. Via Pelissero on Twitter.
- Devontae Booker, RB (Raiders): Signed. One year deal worth veteran salary benefit ($887.5K cap charge). Includes $50K signing bonus. Via ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter.
Latest On Logan Ryan
Last week, free agent cornerback Logan Ryan bid farewell to the Titans. But, before that, he says they rejected his pitch: A new one-year pact to match last year’s salary of $9.5MM.
“I was willing to come back and work with the team on a one-year deal to earn the right for an extension or to go back to free agency next year,” Ryan told the McCourty twins on their podcast (transcript via ESPN.com). “I just wanted my salary that I made last year. You play well in a contract year, you’re going to get paid. I wanted to keep that thing going, but they weren’t really interested in that.”
“It’s just a business. Tennessee really never offered me a contract. They never really talked extension or free agency. They never really tried to bring me back.”
Meanwhile, Ryan is waiting for business to pick up. The 29-year-old started all 16 games for the Titans last year as their top slot man and helped them reach the AFC title game. He also set new career watermarks in tackles (113), passes defended (18), sacks (4.5), and forced fumbles (four).
However, his market has been slow to develop, and his price tag probably has something to do with it. Teams, he says, are “taking their time.” Ryan says he’s received multi-year offers from teams, though he’s still waiting for the right fit.
The Jets and Giants still have needs at cornerback and would make some sense for Ryan. The Titans, meanwhile, are going in a different direction – they selected LSU product Kristian Fulton in the second round and even gave him No. 26, Ryan’s old number.
Titans President Retires For Second Time
- Titans team president Steve Underwood is stepping down, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. After 40 years with the organization, which included the move from Houston in the mid-’90s, he’ll remain on board as a special advisor to owner Amy Adams Strunk. Underwood began his tenure as a legal counsel to Houston Oilers founder Bud Adams and played a key role in the franchise’s relocation to Nashville. Underwood retired previously, stepping away from the team in 2011, but returned in 2015.
Titans Sign 14 UDFAs
On Thursday, the Titans officially welcomed 14 undrafted rookies to the fold:
- Aaron Brewer, OL (Texas State)
- Cale Garrett, ILB (Missouri)
- Tommy Hudson, TE (Arizona State)
- Khaylan Kearse-Thomas, ILB (Arizona State)
- Brandon Kemp, T (Valdosta State)
- Mason Kinsey, WR (Berry College)
- Tucker McCann, K/P (Missouri)
- Anthony McKinney, T (TCU)
- Cameron Scarlett, RB (Stanford)
- Kobe Smith, NT (South Carolina)
- Teair Tart, DT (Florida International)
- Nick Westbrook, WR (Indiana)
- Kristian Wilkerson, WR (Southeast Missouri State)
- Kyle Williams, WR (Arizona State)
Kinsey didn’t garner tons of attention out of Division III Berry College, but he did rack up 3,300+ receiving yards and 50 touchdowns over the course of his career in the Southern Athletic Association. Smith, a defensive tackle out of South Carolina, had more eyeballs on him as he lined up next to Javon Kinlaw. Over the course of his 48-game run with the Gamecocks, Smith tallied seven tackles for a loss.
Garrett is one of the more interesting names on this list – he lost the bulk of his final season with a pectoral tear, but he still managed three interceptions and three defensive touchdowns in five games.
Meanwhile, the Titans are reportedly still in the mix for Jadeveon Clowney. However, we learned this week that they may have some new competition with interest from the Eagles and Ravens.
Eagles, Ravens Interested In Jadeveon Clowney?
A number of teams have been connected in some way or another to free agent edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney over the course of the past several months. The Eagles and Ravens are two such teams, but while there was plenty of speculation linking Clowney to those clubs, there were no concrete reports on that front. However, Mark Berman of Fox 26 KRIV may have changed that last night.
Per Berman’s sources, Philadelphia and Baltimore are among the teams expressing interest in Clowney’s services (Twitter link). Of course, the degree of their interest is unclear, and it’s possible that those clubs are simply keeping tabs on Clowney in case he falls into a certain price range or in case something should happen to one of their other pass rushers. Nonetheless, the “addition” of two Super Bowl hopefuls to the market is notable and will certainly be welcomed by Clowney himself.
The Ravens’ edge rushing contingent is headed by the franchise-tagged Matt Judon, but we do not know where the two sides stand in their negotiations of a long-term pact, and Judon has been rumored as a trade candidate. Although Baltimore’s cap space as it presently stands would seem to preclude a Clowney signing without restructuring the contracts of other players, the team could theoretically trade Judon for quality draft capital and allocate his cap charge to Clowney. The Ravens did re-sign Pernell McPhee just yesterday, and while McPhee can certainly be useful as a rotational pass rusher, his presence will hardly stop GM Eric DeCosta from pursuing Clowney if he believes there’s a fit.
Meanwhile, a pass rusher is arguably the Eagles’ biggest remaining need. Philadelphia has enough salary cap room to fit Clowney into the roster this year, but the club has a lot of work to do with respect to its 2021 cap, especially if the cap should decline as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. So any rollover money the Eagles can carry from 2020 into 2021 will be hugely beneficial. On the other hand, if GM Howie Roseman thinks Clowney can help get his team back to the promised land this year, then his 2021 cap situation will not stop him from pulling the trigger.
Berman also notes that the Titans and Browns are very much in the mix for Clowney, though their interest has been well-documented. In addition, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 draft has not ruled out a return to the Seahawks.
“I hope we can work something out if anything happens,” Clowney said. “I did like it up there. … I love all the guys I played with. … I love Seattle. … I love everyone on the coaching staff” (Twitter link via Berman).
Consistent with what we heard last week, Clowney said he is willing to wait to sign until interested clubs can bring him in for a physical. “I know what’s going on in the world,” Clowney said. “It’s a slow process until teams can see me and see what I got and can give me physicals. I’m just waiting on the right opportunity” (Twitter link via Berman).
Those comments were the first Clowney has made publicly since the end of the 2019 season, and he has been working out at a gym in Houston four days a week since undergoing core muscle surgery (Twitter link via Berman). He says he is fully recovered from his injury, but to get the payday he wants, he will likely need to wait until teams can make that determination for themselves.
Logan Ryan Won’t Return To Titans
Logan Ryan isn’t sure where he’ll be playing in 2020. The only thing he does know is that it won’t be with the Titans. On Tuesday, the free agent cornerback took to Instagram to bid farewell to his fans in Tennessee. 
“To the Titans’ fans: Thank you for all the love. The energy and support this past season is what led to an epic run,” Ryan wrote. “To my Titans teammates: I love all y’all. Being a leader and earning y’all respect is what meant most to me. Win or lose we stuck together and backed down from no one.”
Ryan joined the Titans on a three-year, $30MM contract prior to the 2017 season and became a fixture in the starting lineup. This year, they’re going in a different direction. Ryan finished out 2019 with 113 tackles and 4.5 sacks, showing that he’s still an effective player. With a proven track record and the ability to move around the secondary, Ryan shouldn’t have a hard time finding work – it just boils down to how much he’s asking for.
In March, Ryan refused to accept anything less than the $10MM salary he earned on his last deal, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The Jets, who struck out on most of their targets this spring, would be a logical fit, and they’ll have the cap room to sign someone like Ryan once Trumaine Johnson is off the books. The Giants, who could use some support on both the outside and in the slot, would also make some sense for Ryan.
Titans Add Monti Ossenfort As Director Of Player Personnel
The Patriots’ organizational makeover doesn’t only apply to their roster. Albert Breer reports (via Twitter) that New England’s college scouting director, Monti Ossenfort, has been hired as the Titans’ new director of player personnel.
Ossenfort has been in contention for several GM gigs over the past few years, and he interviewed with the Browns this offseason. The Patriots blocked him from joining the Texans in 2018, and New England wouldn’t let Ossenfort or Nick Caserio head to Houston (following Brian Gaine‘s dismissal) in 2019.
While Caserio’s expiring contract was extended in February, it seemed that Ossenfort was inevitably going to switch teams. His contract was set to expire this month.
Ossenfort had held his role as college scouting director since 2014, and he had been with the organization since the early-2000s. As Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com points out, the executive is already familiar with Titans general manager Jon Robinson, who spent almost a decade in New England. Ossenfort was also working for the Patriots during Mike Vrabel‘s playing days.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/1/20
Today’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: DT Josh Tupou
New York Giants
- Waived: DE Kevin Wilkins
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DL Treyvon Hester
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: S Ibraheim Campbell
Titans To Pick Up Adoree’ Jackson’s Option
The Titans will exercise Adoree’ Jackson’s fifth-year option, according to Paul Kuharsky (Twitter link). He’s now under contract for the 2021 season for roughly $10MM. Meanwhile, wide receiver Corey Davis’ option has been turned down. 
[RELATED: Titans To Decline Corey Davis’ Option]
Last year, Jackson graded out as the eighth-best cornerback in the NFL, according to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus. Even with a raise to an eight-figure salary, the 24-year-old (25 in September) profiles as a major bargain. After this, the Titans are expected to discuss a long-term deal with the USC product to keep him out of reach for rival teams in early 2022.
Jackson has offered solid defense as an outside corner, but GM Jon Robinson recently suggested that the Titans may kick him over to nickel this season. Alternatively, they could use some combination of rising sophomore Amani Hooker and second-round rookie Kristian Fulton to handle the slot.
As shown in PFR’s fifth-year option tracker, there are still a number of decisions that need to be made on 2017 first-round picks between now and the Sunday deadline.