Titans Claim OT John Theus
John Theus has found a new home. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the offensive tackle has been claimed off waivers by the Titans. The 24-year-old was waived by the Saints yesterday. To make room on the roster, the Titans have waived/injured defensive lineman Antwaun Woods (via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com).
The 2016 fifth-round pick out of Georgia has bounced around the league since joining the NFL, spending time with the 49ers, Panthers, and Saints. He has appeared in four career games (including a single start), but he didn’t see the field during the 2017 campaign. The offensive lineman landed on New Orleans’ injured reserve earlier this month with an undisclosed illness.
Theus will likely have an uphill battle to make the Titans roster, as the organization is already rostering a number of capable tackles. Behind projected starters Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin (who could miss time with a knee ailment), Kevin Pamphile, Corey Levin, Dennis Kelly, and Tyler Marz are all competing for playing time.
Woods, a 2016 undrafted free agent out of USC, has spent his entire career with the Titans organization. The 25-year-old appeared in one game during his rookie campaign, compiling three tackles.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/16/18
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DE Patrick Afriyie, WR Justice Liggins, WR Nelson Spruce
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: RB Nick Holley, S Afolabi Laguda, TE Codey McElroy, S Steven Parker, LB Brian Womac
- Waived/injured: LB Carlos Thompson
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: DT Dylan Bradley
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB KeShun Freeman, WR Eldridge Massington, FB Ryan Yurachek
- Released: LB Michael Mauti
- Waived from injured reserve: T John Theus
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: CB Jordan Thomas
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Nick Williams
Titans Sign First-Round LB Rashaan Evans
The Titans have agreed to terms with first-round linebacker Rashaan Evans, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link).
Tennessee moved up on draft night in order to land Evans, shipping a fourth-round pick to the Ravens in order to move up three spots (the Titans also acquired a sixth-round selection in the exchange). The Patriots were reportedly also eyeing the Alabama product, forcing the Titans to trade up to pick No. 22 in order to secure Evans.
Evans will likely be a starter from Day 1, and he’s currently penciled in to play inside linebacker alongside veteran Wesley Woodyard. Although Evans excelled as a pass-rusher at Alabama, the Titans are mostly set at outside ‘backer with Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo. It’s conceivable, however, that Evans will be asked to get after opposing quarterbacks, particularly in sub packages.
Like every first-round pick, Evans will sign a four-year deal that contains a fifth-year option. Evans’ pact will be worth roughly $11.578MM and includes a $6.45MM signing bonus, per Over the Cap. Tennessee previously inked rookies and Dane Cruikshank Luke Falk, leaving second-round edge defender Harold Landry as the team’s lone remaining unsigned draft pick.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/15/18
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DB Jason Hall
- Waived: RB Terrence Magee
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed: OL Anthony Fabiano (Colts), OL Avery Gennesy (Jaguars)
- Waived: P Michael Carrizosa, OL Christian Schneider
Detroit Lions
- Claimed: OL Adam Bisnowaty (Giants)
- Waived: OL Brett Kendrick
Los Angeles Rams
- Claimed: RB Larry Rose (Titans)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB LaRoy Reynolds
- Waived: S Dominick Sanders
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DL Blaine Woodson
- Claimed: CB C.J. Goodwin (Giants)
- Waived: WR DeAndre Carter
Titans Release QB Tyler Ferguson
The Titans released quarterback Tyler Ferguson as a part of their Monday morning roster shakeup. The release of Ferguson leaves the Titans with three quarterbacks on the roster in Marcus Mariota, Blaine Gabbert, and sixth-round pick Luke Falk.
In addition to Ferguson, defensive back Ryan McKinley, defensive back Elijaah Goins, and running back Larry Rose have also been cut. All three players were signed just last week as a part of the Titans’ 22-man UDFA class.
In their stead, the Titans have signed former Tennessee-Martin defensive back Joseph Este, tight end Anthony Firkser (Harvard), linebacker Robert Spillane (Western Michigan), outside linebacker Tobenna Okeke (Fresno State), and defensive lineman Connor Flagel (Central Missouri)
The Titans may look to bring in a fourth QB as a camp arm, but they are likely set under center for the final 53-man roster.
Titans Sign 22 UDFAs
The Titans have signed a host of undrafted free agents to their offseason roster. Here’s the full rundown:
- P/K Austin Barnard (Samford)
- WR Cameron Batson (Texas Tech)
- WR Deontay Burnett (USC)
- RB Dalyn Dawkins (Colorado State)
- ILB Nick DeLuca (North Dakota State)
- OT Matthew Diaz (Wagner)
- DE Matt Dickerson (UCLA)
- C Nico Falah (USC)
- OLB Sharif Finch (Temple)
- CB Rico Gafford (Wyoming)
- CB Elijaah Goins (Ohio State)
- S Joshua Kalu (Nebraska)
- CB Ryan McKinley (Montana)
- OT Elijah Nkansah (Toledo)
- DT Mike Ramsay (Duke)
- RB Larry Rose (New Mexico State)
- WR Devin Ross (Colorado)
- OG Aaron Stinnie (James Madison)
- WR Jordan Veasy (California)
- RB Akrum Wadley (Iowa)
- S Damon Webb (Ohio State)
- TE Ethan Wolf (Tennessee)
Finch received a larger-than-average $42K guarantee to sign with the Titans (as noted by NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, on Twitter), so he may have a better shot than most of making the final cut. Finch, a 6’5″, 250-pound edge rusher, recorded five blocked punts at Temple using his exceptional wingspan. While he lacks pass rushing technique, the Titans probably feel that he has potential as a special teams contributor.
The Titans had only a four-man draft class this year, which necessitated a large UDFA class.
Draft Pick Signings: 5/10/18
Here are the rest of Thursday’s draft pick accords:
- The Buccaneers signed one of their three second-round picks in cornerback M.J. Stewart (No. 53 overall), Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. They also agreed to terms with their final three picks — Kansas State safety Jordan Whitehead (Round 4, pick 117), Penn wide receiver Justin Watson (Round 5, pick 144) and Wisconsin linebacker Jack Cichy (Round 6, pick 202).
- Five-sixths of this Falcons draft class is now signed. Atlanta agreed to a deal with third-round defensive tackle Deadrin Senat (No. 90 overall out of South Florida). After already signing four other selections, only first-rounder Calvin Ridley remains unsigned.
- The Steelers signed one of the safeties they drafted last month in agreeing to terms with Penn State product Marcus Allen (Round 5, pick 148). Pittsburgh also signed Alabama defensive tackle Joshua Frazier (Round 7, pick 246).
- The Jaguars came to terms with four of their seven draftees — the final four Jacksonville selected in this year’s draft. N.C. State tackle Will Richardson (Round 4, pick 129), Nebraska quarterback Tanner Lee (Round 6, pick 203), Wisconsin linebacker Leon Jacobs (Round 7, pick 230) and Mississippi State punter Logan Cooke (Round 7, pick 247) all signed their first Jags contracts Thursday. Cooke has a clear path toward the Jags’ punter job since the team released Brad Nortman two days after the draft.
- Beginning their signings, the Titans agreed to deals with half of their four-man draft class. Tennessee signed Arizona cornerback Dane Cruikshank (Round 5, pick 152) and Washington State quarterback Luke Falk (Round 6, pick 199). The latter will attempt to develop behind Marcus Mariota and Blaine Gabbert.
- Following suit in bringing aboard the back half of their draft, the Bills agreed to deals with four rookies. Jacksonville State safety Siran Neal, Virginia Tech guard Wyatt Teller (Round 5, pick 166), Clemson wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud (Round 6, pick 187) and North Carolina wideout Austin Proehl (Round 7, pick 255) signed their initial Buffalo deals.
- Second-round Panthers pick Donte Jackson (No. 55 overall) signed his rookie contract. Indiana tight end Ian Thomas (Round 4, pick 101), Ole Miss defensive end Marquis Haynes (Round 4, pick 136), Maryland linebacker Jermaine Carter Jr. (Round 5, pick 161) and Miami defensive tackle Kendrick Norton (Round 7, pick 242) followed suit.
NFL Reinstates DL Sammie Lee Hill
The NFL has reinstated former Lions and Titans defensive lineman Sammie Lee Hill, a source tells Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Hill has been suspended since November 2016. 
Given that Hill has been away from the game for more than a full season, it’s not clear what kind of market he’ll find for his services. The former fourth-round pick is 31 years old and turns 32 in November.
Hill served a four-game suspension as a free agent in 2016 for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Months later, he was hit with a one-year ban for an undisclosed violation.
In the past, the Seahawks and Jets showed interest in Hill, so they could be candidates to reach out to him this time around.
Hill, an Alabama native, has 97 games with 48 starts to his credit. Over the years, he has amasses seven sacks and nearly 160 total tackles.
Former Titans DB Michael Griffin To Retire
Longtime Titans safety Michael Griffin will sign a one-day contract to retire with Tennessee, the club announced today.
Griffin, 33, spent nine seasons with the Titans from 2007-15. During that time, the former first-round pick was a mainstay in the club’s secondary, making 141 appearances and 133 starts. While never a star, Griffin did earn two Pro Bowl nods with Tennessee, and was also named second-team All-Pro in 2010. In his run with the Titans, Griffin ranked as a top-10 safety in interceptions, forced fumble, and approximate value, Pro Football Reference’s value over replacement metric.
Griffin bounced around at the end of his career, as he agreed to a one-year contract with the Vikings in 2016 but failed to make the team’s roster out of training camp. He subsequently landed with the Panthers and played in 13 games, but didn’t find a deal for the 2017 campaign.
PFR extends it best wishes to Griffin as he enters retirement.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/1/18
Todays minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: LS Drew Williams, CB Jarell Carter, CB C.J. Goodwin, RB Darius Victor
- Waived/injured: LB Gabe Martin
Baltimore Ravens
- Claimed off waivers: DB Kai Nacua (from Browns)
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: OT Korren Kirven
- Waived: TE Kent Taylor
Houston Texans
- Waived : OL Jake Rodgers
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: TE Anthony Firkser, CB Sheldon Price, DT Mike Purcell
Oakland Raiders
- Suspended for four games: OL Vadal Alexander (PEDs)
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers: OLB Gimel President (from Texans)