NFL Suspends DB Marqui Christian

Marqui Christian agreed to terms with the Jets in March, only for that deal to fall through a week later. The now-free agent defensive back encountered another setback Thursday.

The NFL handed Christian a two-game suspension, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). Under the new CBA, players will rarely face suspensions for substance abuse. That would point to this ban falling outside that arena.

Christian has thus far beaten the odds, emerging as a contributor from the Division II level. The 2016 fifth-round pick out of Midwestern State (Texas) spent the past four years with the Rams, playing in all 19 games for Los Angeles’ Super Bowl-qualifying team in 2018. He made 36 tackles in each of the past two seasons, serving as a backup.

Jaguars Sign Collin Johnson

The Jaguars have officially signed fifth-round wide receiver Collin Johnson, per a club announcement. With Johnson under contract, they now have three of their 2020 draft picks in the fold. 

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Football is in Johnson’s blood – the University of Texas product is the son of former NFL defensive back Johnnie Johnson, who was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame for own stellar career at UT.

Johnson (the younger Johnson) amassed 2,624 receiving yards across four years with the Longhorns, good for the fifth-highest total in program history. If not for a hamstring injury that cost him time last year, he might have been in consideration for teams a couple rounds earlier. Instead, the Jaguars snagged him at No. 206 overall. Per the terms of his slot, Johnson will earn $3.45MM over the course of his four-year deal.

The Jaguars have one of the largest incoming classes in the league, so they still have lots to go. Here’s the full rundown of the Jaguars’ drafted frosh, via PFR’s 2020 NFL Draft Tracker:

1-9: C.J. Henderson, CB (Florida)
1-20: K’Lavon Chaisson, DE (LSU)
2-42: Laviska Shenault, WR (Colorado)
3-73: Davon Hamilton, DT (Ohio State)
4-116: Ben Bartch, OT (St. John’s (MN))
4-137: Josiah Scott, CB (Michigan State)
4-140: Shaquille Quarterman, ILB (Miami): Signed
5-157: Daniel Thomas, S (Auburn)
5-165: Collin Johnson, WR (Texas): Signed
6-189: Jake Luton, QB (Oregon State)
6-206: Tyler Davis, TE (Georgia Tech): Signed
7-223: Chris Claybrooks, CB (Memphis)

Eagles’ Brandon Brooks Done For Year

Guard Brandon Brooks suffered a torn Achilles tendon while working out at the Eagles’ facility. Brooks personally confirmed the news in a tweet on Monday night, vowing to come back “and better than ever.” 

Unfortunately, Brooks has been here before. In January of last year, Brooks tore his right Achilles. This time, it’s the left one. His previous tear came in the 2018 playoffs, giving him enough time to recover before the start of the season. He managed to play in all 16 games for the Eagles in 2019, providing much-needed consistency for an offense that desperately needed it. Then, right when the Eagles clinched the NFC East title, they lost Brooks all over again, thanks to a shoulder injury.

Brooks joined the Eagles in 2016 as a free agent, following his time with the Texans. Since then, he’s performed as one of the best interior linemen in the league. With the Birds, Brooks has started in 62 games, plus five postseason contests.

The 30-year-old (31 in August) will be under contract with the team for years to come, thanks to his recent four-year, $54MM+ extension. The Eagles can expect more good work between 2021 and 2024, but they’ve got a major hole to fill this year.

Bills Sign RB Zack Moss

The Bills have officially signed third-round running back Zack Moss, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Per the terms of his slot, Moss will earn $4.6MM over the course of his four-year deal.

Moss could have gone much higher 2019 draft, if not for season-ending knee surgery. Before he went under the knife, he racked up 1,096 rushing yards off of 179 carries, good for an average of 6.1 yards per attempt. When he came back last year, he went off for 1,400 yards with a 6.0 ypc average.

Moss’ knee checked out well in a pre-draft exam and the Bills believe that Moss is ready to be a difference-maker at the pro level. In Buffalo, Moss will team with Devin Singletary to form a 1-2 backfield combo.

With Moss officially in the fold, the Bills have now wrapped their entire 2020 draft class. Here’s the full rundown, via PFR’s tracker:

2-54: AJ Epenesa, DE (Iowa): Signed
3-86: Zack Moss, RB (Utah): Signed
4-128: Gabriel Davis, WR (UCF): Signed
5-167: Jake Fromm, QB (Georgia): Signed
6-188: Tyler Bass, K (Georgia Southern): Signed
6-207: Isaiah Hodgins, WR (Oregon State): Signed
7-239: Dane Jackson, CB (Pittsburgh): Signed

Jaguars Sign Tyler Davis

The Jaguars officially signed sixth-round tight end Tyler Davis on Friday night, per the league’s official transactions wire. Even with Davis in the fold, the Jaguars still have lots of paperwork ahead of them. The Jaguars have signed only two players in their 12-man draft class, as shown in PFR’s 2020 NFL Draft tracker.

Davis began his collegiate career as a quarterback at Connecticut. He finished his college days as a tight end at Georgia Tech, where he tallied 17 catches for 248 yards and a touchdown last year. Across all four seasons, Davis recorded 64 receptions for 648 yards and eight TDs.

Davis impressed at the combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds at his pro day. At the combine, only Albert Okwuegbunam posted a faster time (4.49 seconds) and he went much earlier on Day 3 (Broncos; fourth round, No. 118 overall). Well-regarded by coaches as a natural leader, Davis will push to make the Jags’ roster as a supporting cast member behind Tyler Eifert.

Here’s a rundown of the Jaguars’ full class, via PFR’s tracker:

1-9: C.J. Henderson, CB (Florida)
1-20: K’Lavon Chaisson, DE (LSU)
2-42: Laviska Shenault, WR (Colorado)
3-73: Davon Hamilton, DT (Ohio State)
4-116: Ben Bartch, OT (St. John’s (MN))
4-137: Josiah Scott, CB (Michigan State)
4-140: Shaquille Quarterman, ILB (Miami): Signed
5-157: Daniel Thomas, S (Auburn)
5-165: Collin Thomas, WR (Texas)
6-189: Jake Luton, QB (Oregon State)
6-206: Tyler Davis, TE (Georgia Tech): Signed
7-223: Chris Claybrooks, CB (Memphis)

Dolphins, Austin Jackson Agree To Terms

The Dolphins agreed to terms with the second of their three first-round picks. Tackle Austin Jackson signed his rookie deal, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

This unusual offseason has seen teams drag their feet on rookie agreements, but the Dolphins are barreling ahead. They have signed both Jackson and Tua Tagovailoa and also agreed to terms with second-round pick Raekwon Davis. Jackson is only the third 2020 first-rounder to sign, joining Tagovailoa and Panthers defensive lineman Derrick Brown.

Both Jackson and Tagovailoa can be categorized as developmental projects who may be eased into work in the pros. Miami used the No. 18 overall pick on Jackson, who has yet to turn 21. Jackson was a two-year starter at USC and projects as Miami’s long-term option at left tackle. While he will not be Tagovailoa’s blind-side protector, with Miami’s QB-in-training being a southpaw, Jackson still represents a significant investment for the Dolphins.

The Jackson pick came less than a year after the Dolphins traded 2016 first-round pick Laremy Tunsil to Houston. Tunsil is now the league’s highest-paid tackle by a wide margin. Jackson’s $13.6MM slot deal runs through 2023, with the team holding an option to extend it through 2024.

The Dolphins have been active in signing picks. Although their third first-rounder — No. 30 overall selection Noah Igbinoghene — remains unsigned, the Dolphins need only to sign he and second-round O-lineman Robert Hunt to wrap up their draft class.

1-5: Tua Tagovailoa, QB (Alabama): Signed
1-18: Austin Jackson, T (Miami): Signed
1-30: Noah Igbinoghene, CB (Auburn)
2-39: Robert Hunt, OL (Louisiana)
2-56: Raekwon Davis, DL (Alabama): Signed
3-70: Brandon Jones, S (Texas): Signed
4-111: Solomon Kindley, OL (Georgia): Signed
5-154: Jason Strowbridge, DT (UNC): Signed
5-164: Curtis Weaver, DE (Boise State): Signed
6-185: Blake Ferguson, LS (LSU): Signed
7-246: Malcolm Perry, WR/RB (Navy): Signed

Ravens Cut LB Jake Ryan

Less than two months after signing Jake Ryan, the Ravens are cutting the veteran linebacker. The team announced the decision to part ways with Ryan on Thursday. The Ravens cut Ryan with a non-football injury designation.

Shortly after signing Ryan, the Ravens devoted significant draft resources to bolstering their linebacker spot. They drafted off-ball ‘backers Patrick Queen (in Round 1) and Malik Harrison (in Round 3).

Prior to the draft, the Ravens had seen Patrick Onwuasor and Josh Bynes defect in free agency — to the Jets and Bengals, respectively. These exits came a year after the Ravens’ C.J. Mosley negotiations broke down when the Jets swooped in with a monster offer.

For Ryan, this represents another setback. The former Packers starter was perhaps on his way to a nice free agency payday in 2019, but an ACL tear during the 2018 offseason proved to be a seminal event. Ryan caught on with the Jaguars last year but spent most of the year on multiple ineligible lists — first the NFI list and then IR — before the Jags declined his option this year.

Steelers’ OT Matt Feiler Signs Tender

Steelers offensive tackle Matt Feiler has signed his one-year restricted free agent tender, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Steelers cuffed Feiler at the second-round level earlier this year to ward away other teams.

Per the terms of the tender, Feiler is now set to earn $3.27MM this year. If another club signed him to an offer sheet and the Steelers declined to match, that club would have had to forfeit a second-round pick. As good as Feiler is, that was too high of a price tag for other teams.

Feiler, 28 in July, came into the league as an undrafted free agent with the Texans. His time in Houston aside, he’s pretty much spent his entire career in Pittsburgh. Feiler cracked the starting lineup in 2018 and, last year, he was first-string for all 16 of the Steelers’ games. For his work, Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 20th best tackle in the entire league out of 80 qualified players.

With a repeat performance, Feiler could be in line for a much bigger pay bump in 2021.

Lions Sign Julian Okwara

The Lions have officially signed rookie Julian Okwara, per a club announcement. The third-round defensive end out of Notre Dame should be able to get acclimated faster than your average NFL frosh – he’ll have help from his brother and new teammate, Romeo Okwara.

According to Pro Football Focus, Okwara posted a 23% pass-rush win rate in each of his last two collegiate seasons, one of the very best in the country. His broken leg hurt his draft stock in April, but the Lions believe that they scored a major value in the Notre Dame product. With tremendous speed, Okwara profiles as a promising pass rusher. If he can bulk up and improve against the run, the Lions may have a future star on their hands.

The Lions have now inked three of their draft picks, as shown in PFR’s 2020 NFL Draft Tracker:

Detroit Lions

1-3: Jeffrey Okudah, CB (Ohio State)
2-35: D’Andre Swift, RB (Georgia)
3-67: Julian Okwara, OLB (Notre Dame): Signed
3-75: Jonah Jackson, G (Ohio State)
4-121: Logan Stenberg, OL (Kentucky): Signed
5-166: Quintez Cephus, WR (Wisconsin)
5-172: Jason Huntley, RB (New Mexico State)
6-197: John Penisini, DT (Utah): Signed
7-235: Jason Cornell, DE (Ohio State)

Seahawks Sign Freddie Swain 

The Seahawks have signed rookie wide receiver Freddie Swain according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). In accordance with his sixth-round draft slot, Swain is set to earn $3.424MM over the course of his four-year deal.

The Seahawks nabbed Swain with the No. 214 overall pick, adding to the team’s already tight competition at wide receiver. It’s a group headlined by Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf, and Phillip Dorsett with two or maybe three spots up for grabs on the 53-man roster. Swain will battle with David Moore, John Ursua – a 2019 pick who topped 1,343 yards in his final year at Hawaii, and a number of UDFAs for a place on the depth chart.

Swain, a Florida product, first made a name for himself as a return specialist. Last year, he showed off his pass-catching abilities, notching 38 catches for 527 yards and a Gators-high seven touchdowns.

With Swain signed, the Seahawks are left with six unsigned rookies from their 2020 draft class. Here’s the full rundown, via PFR’s tracker:

1-27: Jordyn Brooks, LB (Texas Tech)
2-48: Darrell Taylor, OLB (Tennessee)
3-69: Damien Lewis, G (LSU)
4-133: Colby Parkinson, TE (Stanford): Signed
4-144: DeeJay Dallas, RB (Miami)
5-148: Alton Robinson, DE (Syracuse)
6-214: Freddie Swain, WR (Florida): Signed
7-251: Stephen Sullivan, TE (LSU)

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