Jets Sign 16 Undrafted Free Agents
The Jets had a relatively small 2019 draft class with only six selections, but they’ve supplemented those prospects by adding 16 undrafted free agents:
- Justin Alexandre, DL (Incarnate Word)
- Jeff Allison, LB (Fresno State)
- John Battle, S (LSU)
- Kyron Brown, CB (Akron)
- Greg Dortch, WR (Wake Forest)
- Fred Jones, DL (Florida State)
- Tyler Jones, G (North Carolina State)
- Toa Lobendahn, OL (USC)
- Wyatt Miller, OL (Central Florida)
- Jalin Moore, RB (Appalachian State)
- Jamey Mosley, LB (Alabama)
- Kyle Phillips, DL (Tennessee)
- Santos Ramirez, S (Arkansas)
- Trevon Sanders, DL (Troy)
- Jeff Smith, WR (Boston College)
- MyQuon Stout, DL (Appalachian State)
Gil Brandt of NFL.com named Tyler Jones as the fourth-best undrafted free agent interior lineman available, and the Jets don’t exactly have the league’s strongest guard/center situation. If he’s able to play center, Jones could be factor in New York, where only Jonotthan Harrison and Jon Toth are ahead of the NC State product on the depth chart. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com lauded Jones’ pass-blocking acumen and noted his abilities in a zone scheme, which should play well in Adam Gase‘s new system.
Texans Sign 20 UDFAs
The Texans have signed all but one member of their seven-prospect draft class, and they’ve added to that crop by inking the following undrafted free agents:
- Jesse Aniebonam, LB (Maryland)
- Derrick Baity, CB (Kentucky)
- D.J. Coker, C (Rhodes College)
- Damarea Crockett, RB (Missouri)
- Jamal Davis, LB (Akron)
- Johnnie Dixon, WR (Ohio State)
- Johnny Dwight, DE (Alabama)
- Javier Edwards, DT (Colorado)
- Austin Exford, S (Appalachian State)
- Karan Higdon, RB (Michigan)
- Albert Huggins, DE (Clemson)
- Chris Johnson, S (North Alabama)
- Tyron Johnson, WR (Oklahoma State)
- Drew Lewis, LB (Colorado)
- Ira Lewis, DE (Baylor)
- Stephen Louis, WR (North Carolina State)
- Chase Middleton, LB (Georgia State)
- Walter Palmore, DT (Missouri)
- Malcolm Pridgeon, G (Ohio State)
- Dexter Wright, LB (North Carolina State)
Higdon could have a path to a roster spot in Houston. The Texans used a seventh-round pick on Texas A&M running back Cullen Gillaspia, but the only other running backs competing for time behind starter Lamar Miller are D’Onta Foreman (who saw only seven carries in 2018 while recovering from a torn Achilles), Josh Ferguson, and Buddy Howell.
The Texans gave significant guarantees to several of their UDFAs, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Higdon received a $45 base salary and a $5K signing bonus, Crockett got a $35K base salary guarantee with a $10K signing bonus, and Pridgeon received a $35K base salary with an $8K signing bonus.
Huggins received a $35K base salary guarantee with a $5K signing bonus, Palmore got a $30K base salary guarantee with a $10K signing bonus and Davis will collect a $30K base salary guarantee with a $7K signing bonus.
Chris Johnson received a $25K base salary guarantee and a $10K signing bonus, Tyron Johnson got a $30K base salary guarantee and a $5K signing bonus, and Dixon will collect a $40K base salary guarantee and a $10K signing bonus.
Bengals Sign 10 Undrafted Free Agents
The Bengals are the latest NFL team to announce their crop of undrafted college free agents. Cincinnati has agreed to sign the following 10 players:
- Curtis Akins, LB (Memphis)
- Anthony Chesley, CB (Coastal Carolina)
- Jake Dolegala, QB (Central Connecticut State)
- O’Shea Dugas, OL (Louisiana Tech)
- Jordan Ellis, RB (Virginia)
- Charles Holland, WR (Tiffin)
- Tyree Kinnel, S (Michigan)
- Stanley Morgan, WR (Nebraska)
- Keaton Sutherland, OL (Texas A&M)
- Damion Willis, WR (Troy)
Morgan is probably the most interesting name on the list, as many prognosticators believed he could come off the board at some point on Day 3. Over his final two seasons at Nebraska, Morgan averaged 995 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. The Bengals didn’t add a wide receiver with any of their 10 draft picks, so Morgan has a good shot to compete with the likes of Cody Core and Auden Tate for the fifth receiver role on Cincinnati’s roster.
Patriots To Sign Dontrelle Inman
The Patriots have agreed to sign wide receiver Dontrelle Inman, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Terms of the deal are not yet known, but it’s likely a one-year pact for the Pats and the veteran.
The 6’3″, 205-pound Inman gives the Patriots yet another receiver to consider this offseason. He becomes the eleventh wide-receiver on the club’s 90-man roster, joining Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry, Phillip Dorsett, Braxton Berrios, Demaryius Thomas, Maurice Harris, Damoun Patterson, Jakobi Meyers, Ryan Davis, and Xavier Ubosi.
Inman spent the first few years of his career with the Chargers, but has bounced around since the start of the 2017 season. After starting out with the Bolts in ’17, he hooked on with the Bears. Then, last year, he joined the Colts as a free agent where he caught 28 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns.
The Lions considered Inman earlier this offseason, but he’s joining up with the defending champs instead.
Buccaneers Sign 16 UDFAs
The Buccaneers officially signed the following 16 UDFAs on Friday:
- Jalen Allison, CB (North Dakota State)
- Bruce Anderson, RB (North Dakota State)
- Zack Bailey, G (South Carolina)
- Kahzin Daniels, LB (Charleston)
- Lukas Denis, S (Boston College)
- Nick Fitzgerald, QB (Mississippi State)
- Dan Godsil, LS (Indiana)
- Israel Helms, T (Wayne State)
- Anthony Johnson, WR (Buffalo)
- DaMarkus Lodge, WR (Mississippi)
- Dare Odeyingbo, LB (Vanderbilt)
- Brock Ruble, T (Toledo)
- Isaiah Searight, TE (Fordham)
- Cortrelle Simpson, WR (Richmond)
- Malik Taylor, WR (Ferris State)
- Nate Trewyn, C (Wisconsin-Whitewater)
As the Bucs’ press release notes, history suggests that these players will have decent odds of making the final cut. Wide receiver Adam Humphries, running back Peyton Barber, and tight ends Cameron Brate and Antony Auclair all came to Tampa as UDFAs. In every year since 2008, at least one undrafted rookie has made the Buccaneers’ Week 1 roster.
That may be doubly true for defensive tackle Zack Bailey, who received a ~$23K signing bonus, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
Saints Sign Entire Draft Class
That’s a wrap! On Friday, the Saints announced that they have signed their entire draft class:
- 2-48: Erik McCoy, OL (Texas A&M)
- 4-105: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S (Florida)
- 6-177: Saquan Hampton, S (Rutgers)
- 7-231: Alize Mack, TE (Notre Dame)
- 7-244: Kaden Elliss, LB (Idaho)
All players will receive four-year deals. But, naturally, McCoy gets the biggest payout of the bunch. His draft slot at No. 48 overall gives him almost $6.1MM in total, with a signing bonus of nearly $2.5MM.
McCoy spent three years as the Aggies’ starting center, but he also made a pair of starts at guard in 2017. With the Saints, McCoy is expected to compete for the starting center job, though he could theoretically see time at left or right guard.
The Saints had a condensed draft class this year, due in part to the two trades they made to land McCoy and Gardner-Johnson. Last year, Gardner-Johnson made 71 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, and came away with a team-high four interceptions. He already has a relationship with secondary coach Aaron Glenn and couldn’t be happier to be in New Orleans.
“It’s the best all around team from top to bottom, offense and defense,”Gardner-Johnson said recently. “I’m just coming into a system where everything has a standard. I’m just going to come in and live up to that standard so everyone on the team and in the front office upstairs can be proud of me and say these guys are set.”
AFC Draft Pick Signings: 5/9/19
The latest 2019 draft pick signings from around the AFC:
- Tight end Trevon Wesco is now the first Jets rookie under contract, as the West Virginia product signed his deal today, tweets Brian Costello of the New York Post. A more-than-willing blocker, Wesco didn’t post much production at West Virginia, managing only a single reception in both 2016 and 2017 before totaling 26 catches last year. Still, in a New York offense that’s set to run through Le’Veon Bell, Wesco could see the field, especially given that incumbent Jets tight end Chris Herndon graded as one of the NFL’s worst run-blockers in 2018, per Pro Football Focus.
- The Steelers announced that they’ve signed a pair of draft choices, inking both fifth-round tight end Zach Gentry and sixth-round linebacker Ulysees Gilbert to rookie deals. Of the two, Gentry likely has the easier path to playing time not only due to his draft status, but because Gilbert is stuck behind Devin Bush, Mark Barron, and Vince Williams, and Tyler Matakevich at linebacker. Gentry, who posted 32 receptions for 514 yards during his final season at Michigan, will likely see a good deal of special teams duty, but could be involved in Pittsburgh’s offense if Vance McDonald — who has never completed a full 16-game slate — goes down.
- The Texans have signed fifth-round defensive end Charles Omenihu and sixth-round cornerback Xavier Crawford, tweets Mark Berman of FOX 26 (Twitter link). Houston inked a number of draft picks earlier today, leaving only third-round tight end Kahale Warring unsigned.
- The Chargers have signed seventh-round defensive tackle Cortez Broughton, according to Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link). Broughton is the first Los Angels draft choice to sign his rookie deal.
Lions Sign 13 UDFAs
On Friday, the Lions added 13 undrafted rookies to their roster. Here’s the full rundown:
- Nate Becker, TE (Miami, Ohio)
- Beau Benzschawel, G (Wisconsin)
- Malik Carney, LB (UNC)
- Jonathan Duhart, WR (Old Dominion)
- Tre Lamar, LB (Clemson)
- C.J. Moore, S (Ole Miss)
- Matt Nelson, T (Iowa),
- Donald Parham, TE (Stetson)
- Anthony Pittman, LB (Wayne State)
- Ryan Pope, T (San Diego State)
- Micah St. Andrew, G (Fresno State)
- Ray Smith, DT (Boston College)
- Kevin Strong, DT (Texas San-Antonio)
The Lions did not select any offensive linemen in the draft, so they went ahead and inked four OLs in Benzschawel, Nelson, Pope, and St. Andrew. With that in mind, the players in this group may have decent odds of making the final cut from the 90-man roster to the final 53.
Vikings Sign Five Draft Picks
The Vikings made more selections (12) than any other team in the 2019 NFL draft, but they’re nearly done signing their entire rookie class. Only first-round center Garrett Bradbury and seventh-round long-snapper Austin Cutting remain unsigned after Minnesota recently announced the following first-year players have inked their rookie deals:
- 3-102: Alexander Mattison, RB (Boise State)
- 4-114: Dru Samia, G (Oklahoma)
- 6-191: Marcus Epps, DB (Wyoming)
- 7-239: Dillon Mitchell, WR (Oregon)
- 7-247: Olabisi Johnson, WR (Colorado State)
Mattison was considered something of an over-draft at the end of the third round, but he could see a path to playing time during his rookie campaign, as he’ll compete with Mike Boone, Ameer Abdullah, and Roc Thomas for work behind starting running back Dalvin Cook. Mattison, who stands 5’11” and 211 pounds, surpasses 1,000 rushing yards in each of the past two seasons, scoring a combined 29 touchdowns on the ground during that time. His four-year contract should be worth $3.342MM and come with a signing bonus of ~$822K.
Samia was one of four Oklahoma offensive lineman selected in last month’s draft. The four-year starter was named the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2018, and also earned first-team All-Big 12 and second-team All-American nods. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com calls Samia a “very able zone blocker,” which could help him adjust to the NFL as the Vikings implement some form of new offensive consultant Gary Kubiak‘s zone-based scheme. Samia probably isn’t in line for starting work immediately, as Pat Elflein, Bradbury, and Josh Kline will handle Minnesota’s interior, but he’s likely penciled as the club’s top guard/center reserve.
First-round contracts often take a bit longer to work out, so it’s perhaps no surprise that Bradbury is still unsigned. But Cutting’s situations is tied to his status as an alum of the Air Force Academy. He hasn’t signed his rookie deal as he waits for the Air Force to decide if he’ll first need to fulfill his service requirement before playing in the NFL. President Trump is reportedly considering a waiver to allow service academy prospects to immediately play professional sports and delay their military obligations.
Packers Sign Two Draft Picks
The Packers have moved one step closer to wrapping up their 2019 rookie class, as the club recently announced it has signed fifth-round defensive tackle Kingsley Keke and sixth-round cornerback Ka’dar Hollman.
Keke (6’4″, 305) projects as an interior rusher for the Packers, and his performance at the Senior Bowl was impressive enough for Mike Renner of Pro Football Focus to label the Texas A&M product one of the steals of the 2019 draft. During his final season with the Aggies, Keke posted 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss while ranking 16th in among all NCAA interior defenders in run-stop percentage. He might not see much playing time during his first season in Green Bay, as he’s currently behind Mike Daniels, Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, and Montravius Adams on the team’s defensive line depth chart.
Hollman may have an even more difficult path to playing time than Keke, as he’s stuck behind Jaire Alexander, Kevin King, Josh Jackson, and a host of other defensive backs. However, Hollman does possess elite athletic traits, as his 9.23 Relative Athletic Score places him near the upper echelon of historical cornerback averages. As Kent Lee Platte of SB Nation recently noted on Twitter, Green Bay has been targeting prospects with excellent athletic testing results in each of the past four drafts.
With Keke and Hollman now under contract, the Packers have only two unsigned draft choices remaining: second-round offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins and third-round tight end Jace Sternberger.