NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/14/19
Here are the latest players to agree to terms on their rookie deals:
- The Chiefs signed the latter of their two second-round picks, safety Juan Thornhill, on Tuesday. Thornhill, who arrived in Kansas City as the No. 63 overall pick out of Virginia, will attempt to move into the starting lineup alongside Tyrann Mathieu as a rookie. Thornhill intercepted 13 passes over his final three seasons with the Cavaliers. The only member of their six-man class left unsigned is third-rounder Khalen Saunders; third-rounders’ deals can be tricky with the current CBA.
- Four more Seahawks draftees signed their four-year deals Tuesday. Wide receivers Gary Jennings (Round 4) and John Ursua (Round 7) signed. So did sixth-round picks Demarcus Christmas, a defensive tackle out of Florida State, and Travis Homer, Miami-produced running back. Jennings and Ursua, out of West Virginia and Hawaii, respectively, have better odds at contributing this season after Doug Baldwin‘s retirement. Jennings caught 13 touchdown passes last season, while Ursua snagged 16. D.K. Metcalf remains unsigned.
- Two of the Broncos‘ Day 3 picks — fifth-round outside linebacker Justin Hollins and sixth-round wide receiver Juwann Winfree — became the team’s first 2019 draftees to sign. Hollins, an Oregon product who combined for 11 sacks across his junior and senior seasons, will likely be in good position to see time behind Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. The Broncos lost Shaquil Barrett in free agency and are unlikely to bring back Shane Ray. Winfree will join a young Denver receiving corps, which will likely have four first- or second-year cogs.
- Only one Lions draft choice remains unsigned after sixth-rounder Travis Fulgham agreed to terms. The Old Dominion-produced wideout will vie for a reserve role behind Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones and Danny Amendola. Third-round safety Will Harris has yet to sign.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/14/19
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Joe Horn Jr.
Denver Broncos
- Placed on IR: OL Nico Falah
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DE Dadi Nicolas
- Waived/injured: CB Jamal Peters
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DT Boogie Roberts
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB Chase Hansen
New York Jets
- Claimed off waivers from Patriots: T Calvin Anderson, WR Xavier Ubosi
- Waived: T Dieugot Joseph, WR DeAngelo Yancey
Buccaneers Cut Kerwynn Williams
Barely a week after signing Kerwynn Williams, the Buccaneers will move in a different direction. Tampa Bay signed four players in recent days and made the veteran running back one of the cuts required to clear roster space, Greg Auman of The Athletic tweets.
Williams has a history with Bruce Arians and OC Byron Leftwich, playing parts of four seasons with the Cardinals. A Chiefs post-training camp cut last year, Williams did not see any time last season but caught on with the Lions via reserve/futures contract in January. He will now look for another team to give him a shot.
The 27-year-old back’s best season came in 2017, when the Cardinals were mostly without David Johnson. Williams rushed for 426 yards that year. Despite that being by far his NFL high-water mark, Williams has nonetheless managed to remain a roster consideration for teams despite being a 2013 seventh-round pick.
Tampa Bay also cut tackle Israel Helms and wide receiver Malik Taylor. The Bucs waived Isaiah Searight with an injury designation.
Patriots Sign Rookie N’Keal Harry
N’Keal Harry is officially a member of the Patriots. On Tuesday, the Pats signed the first-round wide receiver to his rookie contract, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). In accordance with his slot at No. 32 overall, Harry will earn $10MM+ over the course of his four-year deal with a signing bonus of nearly $5.4MM. 
[RELATED: 2019 NFL Draft Results By Team]
Wide receiver was one of the Patriots’ biggest needs heading into the draft, and they addressed that area with the Arizona State product. He’s not the most explosive receiving prospect we’ve seen, but he’s a hard-nosed competitor who has a knack for winning 50/50 balls against defensive backs on the outside and linebackers on the inside. He’s also been lauded for his run-blocking skills, which likely endeared him to coach Bill Belichick.
Harry was one of the nation’s top prospects coming out of high school and he backed up the hype right away as he led all freshmen with 58 catches. Things only progressed from there. Last year, Harry racked up 73 catches for 1,088 yards and nine touchdowns.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/14/19
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Houston Texans
- Released: LB Dexter Wright
New York Giants
- Waived/Injured: DB Jacob Thieneman
- Waived: K Joey Slye
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: G Johnny Gibson
- Waived: WR Dorren Miller
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: WR Devin Ross
Vikings Sign First Round Pick Garrett Bradbury
The Vikings’ draft class is almost wrapped up. On Tuesday, the Vikings announced the signing of first-round center Garrett Bradbury. 
Bradbury, a North Carolina State product, was taken with the No. 18 overall pick last month. In his final year on campus, Bradbury won the Dave Rimington Trophy, which is awarded to the best center in college football. The converted tight end is believed to be NFL-ready thanks to his core strength and blocking IQ.
With Bradbury signed, the Vikings have just one straggler left in Air Force long snapper Austin Cutting. Cutting, a seventh-round pick, reported to rookie minicamp after signing an injury protection agreement instead of his rookie contract. Cutting says he’s not signing “out of respect to letting the Air Force eventually give a final decision of if he can play in 2019.”
Here’s the full rundown of Minnesota’s frosh class:
- 1-18: Garrett Bradbury, C (North Carolina State): Signed
- 2-50: Irv Smith Jr., TE (Alabama): Signed
- 3-102: Alexander Mattison, RB (Boise State): Signed
- 4-114: Dru Samia, G (Oklahoma): Signed
- 5-162: Cameron Smith, LB (USC): Signed
- 6-190: Armon Watts, DT (Arkansas): Signed
- 6-191: Marcus Epps, DB (Wyoming): Signed
- 6-193: Oli Udoh, T (Elon): Signed
- 7-217: Kris Boyd, CB (Texas): Signed
- 7-239: Dillon Mitchell, WR (Oregon): Signed
- 7-247: Olabisi Johnson, WR (Colorado State): Signed
- 7-250: Austin Cutting, LS (Air Force)
Andy Levitre Retires From NFL
This is the end of the line for former Falcons guard Andy Levitre. On Tuesday, Levitre announced his retirement via social media: 
“Unfortunately, due to injury my body won’t allow me to continue any longer,” Levitre wrote. “Thank you to my wife and children, my family, friends, coaches, teammates and all of the fans who supported me on this journey.”
Levitre came to the Falcons via trade in 2015 and started every game of his first two seasons in Atlanta. Unfortunately, injuries began to slow him down in 2017. In the last two years, Levitre tore both of triceps and was limited to just two games in 2018.
This wasn’t an easy decision for the veteran – in March, Levitre indicated that he would not retire. But, on the eve of his 33rd birthday, Levitre has decided to hang ’em up.
Before joining the Falcons, the former second-round pick spent time with the Bills and Titans. He leaves the sport after playing in 143 games (all starts) over the course of ten seasons.
Bears Sign Three Rookies
The Bears have started to ink their draft picks to contracts. The team announced tonight (via Twitter) that they’ve signed three rookies to deals:
- 4-126: Riley Ridley, WR (Georgia)
- 7-222: Kerrith Whyte Jr., RB (Florida Atlantic)
- 7-238: Stephen Denmark, CB (Valdosta State)
Ridley is the most notable name on the list, and that’s not entirely due to his draft stock. Rather, the Georgia product is the younger brother of Falcons wideout Calvin Ridley. Chicago selected Ridley following another productive collegiate season, as the receiver hauled in 43 receptions for 559 yards and nine scores.
Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, and Anthony Miller seem to have a solid hold on the top three spots on the Bears’ depth chart. However, Ridley could give a pair of free agent additions, Cordarrelle Patterson and Marvin Hall, a run for that fourth spot.
Whyte should have a shot at making the Bears roster as a third or fourth running back behind Mike Davis and Tarik Cohen, as he’ll be competing with unproven options like Ryan Nall, Taquan Mizzell, and fellow rookie David Montgomery,. Denmark will have a more difficult time establishing a role on a team that added free agents Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Buster Skrine.
Following these moves, the Bears have two unsigned draft picks remaining: Montgomery and cornerback Duke Shelley.
Texans Sign RB Taiwan Jones
Veteran Taiwan Jones has found a new home. The running back has signed with the Texans, according to agent Doug Hendrickson (via ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter).
Following a six-year stint with the Raiders that saw him contributing as a running back, returner, and cornerback, Jones caught on with the Bills in 2017. He spent the past two seasons in Buffalo, including a 2018 campaign where he served as the team’s special teams captain.
Jones didn’t play much of an offensive role during his stint with the Bills, hauling in a single catch. However, he did compile seven kick returns and eight tackles through those two campaigns (14 games). His last major offensive contribution came with Oakland in 2015, when he had 16 carries for 74 yards and seven receptions for 106 yards and one score.
In Houston, the 30-year-old will presumably continue to contribute primarily on special teams. He could also theoretically compete with the likes of Gregory Howell, Josh Ferguson, and seventh-rounder Cullen Gillaspia for backup reps behind running backs Lamar Miller and D’Onta Foreman.
More Minor NFL Transactions: 5/13/19
Here’s the latest round of minor moves from around the NFL (for this morning’s minor moves, click here):
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: TE Thomas Duarte
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Juwon Young
- Released: LB Tre’ Williams
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers: DB Mike Tyson (from Texans)
New England Patriots
- Released: WR Xavier Ubosi, OL Calvin Anderson
New York Giants
- Signed: DL Freedom Akinmoladun
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: QB Devlin Hodges, DT Greg Gilmore, WR Johnny Holton, DE Henry Mondeaux, OL Damian Prince, LB Tuzar Skipper
- Released: LB Keion Adams, DE Jay Hayes, DT Chris Nelson, OL R.J. Prince, QB Brogan Roback, WR Ka’Raun White
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: FB Michael Burton, DL Geneo Grissom, OL Marcus Henry, OL Ulrick John, LB Colton Jumper, RB A.J. Ouellette, CB David Simmons Jr., WR Micah Wright
- Released: RB Darnell Holland, DT Tomasi Laulile, CB Darius Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: QB Taryn Christion, TE Mik’Quan Deane
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB Kareem Orr, WR Joe Parker, DB D’Andre Payne, DB LaDarius Riley
- Waived: DB Jonathan Crawford, DB Taj-Amir Torres, WR Isaac Zito
- Waived-injured: DB Hamp Cheevers
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DE Jonathan Bonner, G Jerald Foster, DB Deion Harris, DL Austin Maloata, RB Craig Reynolds
- Waived: RB Russell Hansbrough, DB Joshua Holsey, OT Roubbens Joseph