Chiefs Release OL Bryan Witzmann
The Chiefs carved out a few roster spots today by letting go of three players. Per the NFL’s transactions report, the team released offensive lineman Bryan Witzmann and tight end Sean Culkin. The team also waived quarterback Jordan Ta’amu.
Witzmann, 30, has managed to stick around the NFL for seven years despite going undrafted out of South Dakota State in 2014. The lineman made a name for himself with the Chiefs, appearing in 26 games (with 20 starts) between the 2016 and 2017 seasons. He appeared in 10 games (seven starts) for the Bears in 2018 before he was limited to only a pair of games with the Panthers in 2019.
The veteran spent much of the 2020 season as a free agent before catching on with the Chiefs practice squad in October. He ultimately saw time in only one game for Kansas City, although he did enough to get a new contract from the team back in February. The Chiefs have been active revamping their offensive line this offseason, and Witzmann is just the latest casualty.
Culkin has started 12 of his 19 games since entering the NFL in 2017, but he’s only hauled in a pair of catches. He spent the majority of the 2020 season with the Ravens, and he inked a reserve/futures contract with the Chiefs back in February.
Ta’amu has bounced around the NFL since going undrafted out of Ole Miss in 2019, spending time with the Texans, Lions, and Chiefs (two stints). He joined Kansas City’s practice squad in January and later inked a reserve/futures contract with the organization. The quarterback also spent time in the XFL, earning a Player of the Week award.
Titans Cut LB Nate Orchard
Nate Orchard‘s stint with the Titans has come to an end. The Titans released the veteran linebacker today, per the NFL ‘s official transactions report. Tennessee also waived tight end Parker Hesse and long snapper Matt Orzech.
The 2015 second-round pick lived up to his draft stock during his rookie season, finishing with three sacks and four QB hits. After spending most of his sophomore campaign on the IR, Orchard settled into a backup role with the Browns in 2017, but he was cut by Cleveland prior to the 2018 campaign. Since that time, the veteran has bounced around the NFL, spending time with the Bills, Chiefs, Seahawks, Dolphins, Washington, and Texans. He saw time in three games for WFT last season, collecting a pair of tackles.
After getting cut by Washington in November, Orchard caught on with the Titans practice squad. He inked a futures contract with the organization in January. Ultimately, the 28-year-old won’t make it to training camp with the organization.
Orzech, a 2019 undrafted free agent, got into 16 games as a rookie with the Jaguars. In 2020, he had stints with the Jaguars and Dolphins before landing with the Titans practice squad.
Hesse, a former University of Iowa standout, spent most of the 2020 season on Tennessee’s practice squad.
Browns Claim Chase McLaughlin
The Browns have added some more competition for Cody Parkey. Cleveland was awarded Chase McLaughlin off waivers from the Jets, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
The Jets had claimed McLaughlin off waivers themselves from the Jaguars last December. He’s already bounced around a remarkable portion of the league considering he only entered the NFL as an UDFA in 2019. Despite playing just two seasons, McLaughlin has already spent time with the Bills, Vikings, Chargers, 49ers, Colts, Vikings (again), Jaguars, Jets, and now Browns.
He’s now played for a fourth of the league, and only just turned 25. Most of those stints were obviously short, and a few were just on the practice squad or during the preseason. As far as regular season action goes, McLaughlin kicked in a few games for the Colts, Chargers, and 49ers all in 2019. He then kicked in three for the Jags last year and one for the Jets.
In his career, the Illinois product is 22/28 on field goals and 31/32 on extra points. Parkey was solid but not spectacular in his first year in Cleveland in 2020, making 19 of 22 field goals and 43 of 47 extra points. The Browns never even had him attempt one from beyond 50 yards. They also currently have Matthew McCrane on the offseason roster.
Patriots To Sign Harvey Langi
The Patriots are bringing in a familiar face for some defensive depth. New England has agreed to terms with free agent linebacker Harvey Langi, his agent Kenny Zuckerman tweets.
Pats fans may remember Langi, since the team signed him as an undrafted free agent back in 2017. At the time he was arguably the most sought after undrafted free agent of the class, as the Patriots gave him over $100K guaranteed to sign with them. He ended up only appearing in one game as a rookie, and spent most of the year on the NFI list as the result of a car crash.
He was waived at final cuts the following year, and quickly scooped up by the Jets. After spending 2018 on New York’s practice squad, he began to make a real impact in 2019. Langi played in 30 games with the Jets the past two years, starting nine.
In 2020 he started six games, finishing with 60 tackles. Despite playing 45 percent of the defensive snaps, the Jets elected not to tender him as a restricted free agent this offseason. Now, he’s getting another chance to impress Bill Belichick.
Chargers To Sign Christian Covington
The Chargers are adding some depth to their defensive line. Los Angeles has agreed to terms with free agent defensive tackle Christian Covington, his agent David Canter announced on Twitter.
The Chargers previously had Linval Joseph, but not much else at defensive tackle. With Melvin Ingram leaving in free agency, their defensive front depth as a whole had been looking pretty thin. Covington was drafted by the Texans in the sixth-round back in 2015, and became a solid contributor and part-time starter in Houston.
In his final season with the Texans in 2018 he had his best year as a pass-rusher, racking up 3.5 sacks coming up the middle in only 12 games. He signed a one-year deal with Dallas in 2019, then a one-year $1.75MM contract with the Broncos last offseason.
He never ended up playing a game for Denver, as the Broncos traded him to the Bengals right before the start of last season. He appeared in all 16 games for Cincy, starting 14, and notching a career-high 39 tackles. The folks over at Pro Football Focus gave him middling grades for his work. He’ll turn 28 in October.
Colts To Sign Eric Fisher
The Colts have agreed to sign Eric Fisher, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Once finalized, it’ll be a one-year, $9.4MM deal for the Pro Bowl tackle. 
Fisher will now be tasked with protecting Carson Wentz’s blindside. He’ll also have some big shoes to fill, taking over for the job previously held by Anthony Castonzo. The former No. 1 overall pick should be well equipped for the role and he certainly profiles as a better option than the incumbents. After passing on elite tackles in the draft, the Colts were left with newcomers Sam Tevi and Julie’n Davenport as their best LT candidates.
The 30-year-old did not miss a start due to injury from 2014-18, but core muscle surgery derailed him afterwards. But, when he retook the field in 2019, he helped lift the Chiefs to a late-season win streak that culminated in a Super Bowl LIV victory. Last year, he was wiped out by an Achilles tear. The Chiefs opted to release him this offseason, paving the way for former Ravens standout Orlando Brown Jr.
The Colts are comfortable with Fisher’s rehab (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport), though he’s less than certain to be ready for Week 1. Either way, it’s a notable upgrade for Indy, especially since they can now keep guard Quenton Nelson on the interior.
Colts Bring In 5 UDFAs
The Colts have assembled their post-draft group, agreeing to terms with five UDFAs. Here is Indianapolis’ initial undrafted haul:
- Tarik Black, WR (Texas)
- Anthony Butler, LB (Liberty)
- Deon Jackson, RB (Duke)
- Isaiah Kaufusi, LB (BYU)
- Tyler Vaughns, WR (USC)
The Colts gave Jackson a lofty (for a UDFA) signing bonus, with NFL reporter Aaron Wilson tweeting the ex-Duke back will collect $45K to sign. Only two running backs clocked faster 40-yard dash times at 2021 pro days than Jackson’s 4.4-second sprint, according to Colts.com. Despite not topping 175 carries in any of his college seasons, Jackson totaled 2,267 rushing yards during a three-season run as a starter.
Vaughns will join former Trojans teammate Michael Pittman Jr. with the Colts; the former enjoyed a four-year run as a key USC aerial contributor. Working with Sam Darnold and 2022 first-round prospect Kedon Slovis, Vaughns totaled 2,801 receiving yards and 20 touchdown catches in four seasons. The 6-foot-2 wideout also saw extensive action as a punt returner. He posted 800-plus-yard seasons as a freshman and junior and was on pace for another in the Pac-12’s COVID-19-abbreviated 2020 slate.
Kaufusi will follow brothers Corbin and Bronson into the NFL. A 2016 Ravens draftee, Bronson played for the Ravens and Jets from 2017-19. The Packers and 49ers, respectively, gave Bronson and Corbin reserve/futures contracts in January. Father Steve Kaufusi also played in the NFL, spending time with the Buddy Ryan-era Eagles.
Jaguars Sign 5 UDFAs
The Jaguars signed the highest-profile undrafted free agent, agreeing to terms with former Alabama standout Dylan Moses. The team announced the rest of its initial UDFA haul. Here is the rest of Jacksonville’s group:
- D.J. Daniel, CB (Georgia)
- Josh Imatorbhebhe, WR (Illinois)
- Tim Jones, WR (Southern Miss)
- Kenny Randall, DT (Charleston)
- Corey Straughter, CB (Louisiana Monroe)
The two wide receivers follow a Jags draft that included one wideout — Georgia Tech’s Jalen Camp in Round 6. The team authorized a sizable guarantee to Jones, whom veteran NFL reporter Aaron Wilson tweets will collect $180K. Jacksonville guaranteed $165K of Jones’ base salary and will add a $15K signing bonus. Jones operated as a key Southern Miss target from 2018-20, posting his best season — a 73-catch, 902-yard campaign — as a junior in 2019.
Additionally, the Jaguars are guaranteeing Randall $120K, Wilson adds (on Twitter). Once a Temple commit, Randall played three seasons with Division II Charleston (W.V.). Randall, who joins seventh-round Colts wideout Mike Strachan as Charleston players to land with AFC South squads this year, registered 32.5 tackles for loss in three college seasons. He opted out of his senior season, which the pandemic moved to the spring.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/7/21
Today’s minor moves on a quiet Friday:
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: FB Sutton Smith
New York Jets
- Cut w/ failed physical designation: Saquan Hampton
Smith is a bit of an interesting story as the Steelers drafted him in the sixth-round back in 2019, as a linebacker. The Northern Illinois recently made the position switch to fullback after getting cut by a few teams, as Mike Triplett of ESPN.com tweets.
Steelers Make Trio Of Moves In Secondary
The Steelers made a trio of moves in their secondary as we head into the weekend. Pittsburgh signed safety Arthur Maulet while cutting cornerback Trevor Williams and safety John Battle, they announced Friday.
It’s a one-year deal with Maulet, who was with the Jets the past two seasons. Originally an UDFA with the Saints back in 2017, Maulet started a game for the Colts in 2018, but really found his footing in the league with New York in 2019. He appeared in 23 games and started 11 for the Jets over the past two years. In 11 games and five starts in 2020, he had 29 tackles, a sack, five passes defended, and an interception. He entered the league a little older than most so the Memphis product will turn 28 in July.
Williams looked like a potential very solid starter early in his career with the Chargers, but a knee injury derailed his career. Williams started 15 games for the Chargers in 2017 and seven in 2018 before the knee issue landed him on IR. He had been a part of a strong Chargers secondary, but was cut in 2019 after landing on injured reserve again.
Teams keep taking flyers on him since, as he’s had short stints with the Cardinals, Eagles and Jaguars recently, but they keep cutting him too. He’s still only 27, and will likely get another shot soon since teams seem to believe in his potential.
Battle is a 2019 UDFA from LSU who was on the Steelers’ practice squad last year.