Minor NFL Transactions: 5/13/19
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: RB Dontae Strickland
- Waived: CB Ryan Pulley, TE Jerome Washington
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: QB Jalan McClendon, G Patrick Vahe
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: S Abraham Wallace, OL Garrett McGhin, DT Quindarius Thagard
- Released: TE Jake Fisher, RB Keith Ford
Chicago Bears
- Bears Signed: WR Jesper Horsted
- Waived: G Tommy Doles
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: RB L.J. Scott
- Released: RB Devante Mays
Denver Broncos
- Signed: TE Bug Howard, OL Nathan Jacobson, DL Deyon Sizer, DL DeShawn Williams
- Released: TE Temarrick Hemingway, DL Caushaud Lyons, OL Brian Wallace, DL Jaylen Johnson
New York Giants
- Re-Signed: DL John Jenkins
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: RB Nico Evans, QB Luis Perez
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: TE Parker Hesse, WR Cody Hollister
Gunther Cunningham Dead At 72
Former Chiefs head coach and longtime NFL assistant Gunther Cunningham has died at the age of 72. Cunningham, who most recently served as a senior coaching assistant with the Lions, was beloved around the league. 
“Gunther Cunningham will forever be remembered as one of the great men of our game,” the Lions said in a statement. “He left a lasting impact on every person who was fortunate enough to work alongside him during his more than 47 years as a coach – including 34 years in the National Football League, the final eight of which were spent here in Detroit. Our organization is truly honored and proud to have been included in his distinguished coaching legacy. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his wife, René, and their entire family.”
Cunningham began his coaching career at the University of Oregon in 1969 and moved to the pro ranks in 1982 with the Lions. In 1995, he got his big break when the Chiefs appointed him as their defensive coordinator. Four years later, he was elevated to the head coaching position, where he went .500 over two years before being fired. Along the way, he also had stops with the Colts, Titans, Chargers, and Raiders.
Years later, Cunningham would return as the Chiefs’ DC and took on the same job with the Lions between 2009-2013.
We here at PFR extend our condolences to Cunningham’s loved ones.
Titans Sign Two Draft Picks, 12 UDFAs
The Titans have signed a pair of rookie linebackers, fifth-round pick D’Andre Walker and sixth-round pick David Long, the club announced today.
Walker projects as an edge rusher at the NFL level, while Long is more likely to play off-ball linebacker. Neither looks to have an easy path to playing time in 2019. The Titans already boast Harold Landry and Cameron Wake on the edge, while Long is blocked by Rashaan Evans, Jayon Brown, and Wesley Woodyard on the inside.
Tennessee also agreed to terms with the following 12 undrafted free agents:
- Alex Barnes, RB (Kansas State)
- Amani Bledsoe, DE (Oklahoma)
- Hamp Cheevers, CB (Boston College)
- Cody Conway, T (Syracuse)
- Jonathan Crawford, S (Indiana)
- A.T. Hall, T (Stanford)
- Braxton Hoyett, DT (Mississippi State)
- Isaiah Mack, DT (Tennessee-Chattanooga)
- Anthony Ratliff-Williams, WR (North Carolina)
- Derick Roberson, LB (Sam Houston St.)
- Taj-Amir Torres, CB (Boston College)
- Isaac Zico, WR (Purdue)
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/7/19
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the night:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed off waivers from Browns: RB Darrin Hall
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: CB Ashton Lampkin, LB Xavier Woodson-Luster
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Rashard Davis, RB Marcus Marshall, DB Herb Miller, DB Andrew Soroh
- Waived: WR Andre Lindsey, S Leon McQuay, DB Dakari Monroe
- Waived/injured: WR Jamire Jordan
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: S Jordan Martin
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Deonta Harris
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: DB Mercy Maston
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: WR Roger Lewis
Would Titans Have Interest In Suh?
- Would the Titans consider bringing in veteran defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh? Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com says he has not “heard a lot of internal buzz about this.” Suh did visit with the Titans last offseason before he landed with the Rams, and Wyatt notes that the veteran enjoyed his visit with Tennessee. Plus, Suh has a relationship with Titans defensive-line coach Terrell Williams and lineman Cameron Wake, so perhaps a deal isn’t all that unrealistic.
[SOURCE LINK]
Titans' Bates Charged With Marijuana Possession
- Speaking of off-field issues, Titans linebacker Daren Bates was recently charged with marijuana possession, per Terry McCormick of Titansinsider.com. The charge doesn’t sound too serious in McCormick’s recap, but he still could potentially face league discipline. Originally signed by the Rams as an undrafted free agent out of Auburn back in 2013, Bates has been able to stick in the league thanks to his special teams prowess. Bates, who has been with the Titans since the 2017 season, played only 40 defensive snaps last year but he played 83 percent of the team’s special teams snaps. He’s heading into the final year of a three-year, $6MM deal.
Raiders Cut TE Lee Smith
The Raiders have cut veteran tight end Lee Smith, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Rapoport posits that Smith could reunite with his old offensive coordinator Todd Downing, who is now the tight ends coach of the Titans, and Paul Kuharsky of PaulKuharsky.com feels that Tennessee will indeed pursue Smith (Twitter link).
Smith’s release comes as something of a surprise, as Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has shown a fondness for veterans of his ilk, and he is one of the better blocking tight ends in the league. But he offers almost nothing as a receiver, as he has averaged just 49 receiving yards per season in his eight years in the league.
Plus, Oakland just added TE Foster Moreau in the fourth round of last week’s draft, and the club already has a blocking tight end on the roster in Derek Carrier. Luke Willson, who signed with the Raiders last month, is the most prolific receiving TE on the roster.
Smith signed a three-year deal with the Raiders last March, but he made it through just the first year of that contract. Oakland creates just under $2MM in cap space with the move.
Titans To Decline Jack Conklin’s Option
The Titans will not pick up Jack Conklin‘s 2020 option, a source tells Mike Florio of PFT (on Twitter). This was not necessarily the expected outcome for the former First-Team All-Pro. 
The 24-year-old (25 in August) started in every possible game in his first two seasons in the league. However, things turned a bit in the Titans’ divisional round loss to the Patriots following the 2017 season. Conklin’s torn ACL sidelined him for the offseason plus the first three games of 2018. Then, Conklin landed back on IR in December of last year.
In between the maladies, Conklin was not as sharp as his rookie self. Reading between the lines, it sounds as though the Titans have doubts about how well Conklin can recover from his knee injuries and concussions.
Last year, Conklin graded out as the 45th ranked tackle in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. That positions Conklin as a starting-caliber tackle, but not an elite one, making his would-be $12.866MM salary for 2020 a bit too rich for the Titans’ blood.
Titans Claim LB Riley Bullough
Shortly after the draft, the Buccaneers waived multiyear contributor Riley Bullough. The Titans will now see what the linebacker can do under their watch.
Tennessee submitted a successful waiver claim on the young linebacker on Tuesday. Bullough will now head to Nashville.
A 2017 UDFA who became a fan favorite on Hard Knocks that summer, Bullough made his way into Tampa Bay’s starting lineup in 2018. He was a first-stringer in three games last season. The Michigan State product started in three games and played in nine as an NFL sophomore. But he’s been mostly a special teams cog, having made just 15 career tackles in 12 games.
The Bucs waived Bullough with an injury designation prior to the 2018 regular season but brought him back in October. After waiving him again this year, they will not have an immediate chance to re-sign him.
The Titans closed their six-player draft with two linebackers — D’Andre Walker and David Long Jr., respectively chosen in the fifth and sixth rounds — but did not sign any veteran free agents at this spot.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/29/19
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: C Kyle Friend
Denver Broncos
- Signed: K Taylor Bertolet (AAF)
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: OL Nico Siragusa, DB Jason Thompson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: C Tejan Koroma
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: OL Jeremiah Kolone
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: WR Steven Dunbar, DB Godwin Igwebuike, CB Tarvarus McFadden, LB James Onwualu, WR Jordan Smallwood, P Justin Vogel, S Terrell Williams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- K Phillip Anderson, LB Riley Bullough, DE Hunter Dimick, P Hayden Hunt, DE Nick Thurman
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: NT Darius Kilgo