Dolphins Sign TE Jibri Blount
The Dolphins added an interesting UDFA Thursday, coming to terms with former North Carolina Central basketball player Jibri Blount. The 6-foot-7, 225-pound football convert is the son of Steelers Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Blount.
Jibri Blount began his hoops career at Cleveland State, after playing at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, but did not break out until his transfer to North Carolina. With the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference program, Blount played a centerpiece role. As a senior, he scored 19.1 points per game and pulled down 9.3 rebounds per contest. This earned Blount MEAC Player of the Year acclaim. Jibri, however, did not play football in college.
This marks the second of Mel Blount’s sons to sign with the Dolphins. The team added Akil Blount as a UDFA in 2016. Akil did not play in a regular-season game but did have a football background, having played linebacker at Florida A&M. Jibri is attempting to make a basketball-to-football crossover, a move a few tight ends have completed over the past several years. Jibri will play tight end, according to the Dolphins.
Linked to Kyle Pitts ahead of the draft, the Dolphins were not in position to select the Florida star. They did add Boston College tight end Hunter Long in Round 3, however. Long joins Mike Gesicki on Miami’s roster. Jibri Blount certainly qualifies as a developmental player, but with practice squads expected to remain at or near the 16-player limit from last season, such gambles make sense.
Colts Sign Kwity Paye, 4 Other Draft Picks
The Colts have jumped out to an early lead in draft pick signings. They agreed to terms with five draftees Thursday, including their top two picks — defensive linemen Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo.
Chosen 21st overall, Paye will be expected to play a key role for the Colts as a rookie. The team entered the draft with a significant edge rusher need, and the Michigan product was viewed as one of the top outside pressure artists available. Paye ranked as Scouts Inc.’s top pass-rushing prospect in this year’s draft, and for good reason. This was thanks in part to a 2019 campaign where the Michigan product finished with 6.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss.
While this was not viewed as a strong D-line draft class, the Colts have not re-signed Justin Houston and did not have a steady edge presence opposite him in 2020. The team doubled up at this position group to start the weekend. Chosen 54th overall out of Vanderbilt, Odeyingbo may profile as a player who operates both outside and inside — perhaps similar to Denico Autry, who departed for Tennessee in free agency. Odeyingbo, however, qualifies as a project. He may miss his rookie season, having suffered an Achilles’ tendon tear in January while training for the draft.
Only fourth-round pick Kylen Granson, a tight end, and former Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (Round 6) are unsigned from Indianapolis’ draft class. Here are the Colts’ rookie signees thus far:
- Kwity Paye, DE (Michigan, Round 1)
- Dayo Odeyingbo, DL (Vanderbilt, Round 2)
- Shawn Davis, S (Florida, Round 5)
- Mike Strachan, WR (Charleston, W.V., Round 7)
- Will Fries, OL (Penn State)
Panthers Sign Fourth-Round RB Chuba Hubbard
The Panthers have signed fourth-round running back Chuba Hubbard, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Per the terms of his draft slot, the Oklahoma product will earn $4.2MM over the next four years. 
After finishing eighth in the 2019 Heisman Trophy voting, Hubbard caught the attention of scouts everywhere. He also made an impression on Julie Rhule, the wife of Panthers head coach Matt Rhule. Julie encouraged her husband to take the 6’0″ tailback and got her wish on Saturday.
This past year, Hubbard rushed for just 625 yards and saw his yards-per-carry figure drop from 6.4 to 4.7. Still, he compiled four straight 100-plus-yard outings, which gave him a good enough platform to go pro. And, just one year ago, he was a 2,000-yard rusher. Late last year, Scouts Inc. had him slotted him as the third best RB in this year’s class, behind only Clemson’s Travis Etienne and Alabama’s Najee Harris.
Now, Hubbard will fight for reps behind star Christian McCaffrey. Veteran RBs Trenton Cannon and Reggie Bonnafon are also in the mix for Carolina.
Lions, Frank Ragnow Agree To Record Extension
Lions center Frank Ragnow has agreed to a brand new four-year deal (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). The extension will position Ragnow as the highest-paid center in NFL history and keep the young center in Detroit through 2026. 
On average, Ragnow will make $13.5MM per year (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). In total, the deal is worth approximately $70MM with $25.5MM fully guaranteed and $42MM in total guarantees. That’s not chump change, but new Lions GM Brad Holmes has long said that he’d be willing to pay the price.
“It’s extremely important. We already view him as a long-term piece and he is a foundational piece because Frank is a guy that plays the game the right way,” Holmes said (via Kyle Meinke of MLive.com). “He’s everything that we look for and what we want as a Lion. I’ll never forget when it first got announced that I got the job, Frank reached out immediately. I told him, ‘Man, huge fan of you and you play the game the right way.’ So, very important to get it done. Not going to comment on timetable right now — that would be a little bit premature — but we’re not sitting back and waiting on that one.”
Ragnow has been first-string for the Lions ever since he was taken with the No. 20 overall pick in 2018. At first, the Lions used the Arkansas product at left guard. In 2019, they shifted him to the middle. He’s started in every game since, save for three missed contests due to injury.
Earlier this spring, the Lions made the easy call to pick up Ragnow’s fifth year for $12.657MM. Now, Ragnow has a fresh deal to top Chargers center Corey Linsley for the richest contract at the position.
Dolphins To Cut Bobby McCain
The Dolphins have informed safety Bobby McCain that he’ll be released today (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). By cutting the team captain, the Dolphins will nix the final two years of his four-year, $27MM deal. 
McCain was set to count for $7.14MM against the 2021 cap. The Dolphins will be left with just $1.48MM in dead money while saving $5.66MM on the books. At least, that’ll be the breakdown if he’s formally released. NFL teams will occasionally leak word of an impending release in order to stir up trade talks. That could the case here, with the Dolphins aiming to get something in return for McCain before the end of the business day.
McCain, a 2015 fifth-rounder, has been a staple of the Dolphins’ defense over the last six years. All in all, he’s started in 55 of his 87 games, collecting seven interceptions and four sacks along the way.
Last year, McCain was first-string for 15 of his 16 games, notching one INT, 46 stops, and five passes defensed. However, his performance left something to be desired — he ranked just 55th out of 94 qualified safeties, per Pro Football Focus. Ultimately, the Dolphins chose to go younger and cheaper. One way or another, they’ll shed McCain’s contract while working third-rounder Jevon Holland into the rotation.
Without McCain, the Dolphins project to use Eric Rowe, Brandon Jones, and Holland as their top safeties.
Chiefs Sign Kamalei Correa
The Chiefs have signed linebacker Kamalei Correa, according to Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star. The Jaguars cut Correa in February, but he’s found a home well in advance of training camp.
Correa, a sixth-year pro, has bounced around throughout his career, including two trades. The Ravens dealt the outside linebacker to the Titans just before the 2018 season. The former second-round pick went on to play 32 games for Tennessee, making nine starts and tallying 8.5 sacks. Then, in October of last year, the Titans traded him to the Jaguars in a swap of late-round picks.
The veteran played in three games for the Titans and started six games for the Jaguars before going on the reserve/left squad list in December. Now, Correa will look to find a spot in the LB rotation alongside Willie Gay, Anthony Hitchens, and new second-round pick Nick Bolton.
WFT Signs TE Deon Yelder, CB Linden Stephens
The Washington Football Team added a pair of veterans today. The team announced this evening that they’ve signed tight end Deon Yelder and cornerback Linden Stephens.
Yelder is the notable name in this grouping, as the tight end appeared in 26 games for the Chiefs over the past three seasons. This included a 2020 campaign where he set career-highs across the board, including games played (14), receptions (seven), receiving yards (36), and offensive snaps (194). He also has four playoff games (including three in 2019) and a Super Bowl ring on his resume.
Logan Thomas sits atop the depth chart in Washington, meaning Yelder will end up battling with the likes of Temarrick Hemingway, John Bates, Marcus Baugh, Tyrone Swoopes, and Sammis Reyes for backup reps.
Stephens has bounced around the NFL since going undrafted out of Cincinnati in 2018, spending time with the Saints, Rams, Broncos, Seahawks, Dolphins, and Seahawks (second stint). He saw time in 13 games for Seattle last season, appearing mostly on special teams.
Lions To Waive RB Kerryon Johnson
Kerryon Johnson‘s stint with the Lions has come to an end. Detroit is waiving the running back, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
The 2018 second-round pick was a major part of the Lions offense as a rookie, compiling 854 yards from scrimmage and four scores. He saw a similar workload in 2019 before succumbing to a knee injury after only eight games (seven starts).
When Johnson returned from injury in 2020, he was no longer atop the depth chart. The team seemed to priortize 2020 second-round running back D’Andre Swift over Johnson, with the third-year pro also having to battle Adrian Peterson for snaps. Ultimately, Johnson finished this past season with only 368 yards from scrimmage in 16 games, although he did earn praise for his pass-blocking ability.
While Peterson won’t be back next season, the team did add former Packers running back Jamaal Williams on a two-year deal. The team also added Jermar Jefferson in the seventh round of the draft, meaning Johnson wasn’t even guaranteed a spot as a third running back.
Now, the 23-year-old Johnson will hit the waiver wire, and there’s a solid chance he’s scooped up by another squad. Johnson still has a year left on his rookie contract, with his contract counting $2MM against the cap. The Lions save about $1.3MM with this move.
Buccaneers To Re-Sign QB Blaine Gabbert
Recently, the Buccaneers became the first defending champ since 1993 to bring back all 22 starters for the following season. The front office is also making an effort to retain their backups. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports (via Twitter) that Tampa Bay is re-signing backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert. It’s a one-year deal worth $2.5MM for the veteran.
While the Buccaneers re-signed third-stringer Ryan Griffin and drafted Kyle Trask in the second round, the organization has made it clear that they intended to re-sign Gabbert. Bruce Arians explicitly said that he wanted to keep the veteran around, while GM Jason Licht went as far to insinuate that Gabbert could be an eventual successor to Tom Brady.
Gabbert has spent the past two seasons in Tampa, throwing for 143 yards and two scores (all in 2020). The former first-rounder hasn’t been a full-time starter since back in 2012, and he’s started only 21 games since the 2015 season. Still, Gabbert has familiarity with the system (he played for Arians in Arizona) and his teammates, so he’s a natural fit to back up Brady for at least another season.
With teams rarely carrying four active-roster quarterbacks, Gabbert re-signing would point Griffin to either the practice squad or another team, while Trask would settle into a developmental third-stringer role.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/5/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: CB Kemon Hall, DE Ladarius Hamilton, DT Walter Palmore, C Adam Redmond
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Malik Jefferson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Chris Finke
New York Jets
- Claimed (from 49ers): WR Matt Cole
Seattle Seahawks
- Claimed (from Jaguars): LB Nate Evans
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S Raven Greene, LB Joseph Jones