Minor NFL Transactions: 5/5/19
Here are today’s minor moves. We’ll update this list throughout the day:
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: K Cole Hedlund, DT Sterling Shippy, LB Tre Thomas, CB Shakial Taylor
- Waived: Clayton Hatfield, CB Chris Rayford, DE Anthony Winbush
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Tenny Adewusi (UDFA/Delaware), P Ryan Anderson (UDFA/Rutgers), DE Alex Jenkins
- Placed on IR: Nate Harvey
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: RB Austin Walter
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/4/19
We’ll keep track the latest late-round draft pick signings here:
- The Ravens announced the signing of sixth round quarterback Trace McSorley. After signing three picks yesterday, the Ravens have now locked up all their Day 3 picks, and are just waiting on their first three picks to sign. McSorley set records at Penn State, but was widely viewed as being too small and inconsistent with his accuracy to be a top rated passer. The Ravens took a flier with the 197th pick, and they might experiment with him. McSorley played safety in high school, and he was by far the fastest quarterback at the combine. Ravens coach John Harbaugh has mentioned the possibility of using him on special teams and as a gadget player, and it sounds like McSorley could play a similar role with Baltimore as Taysom Hill does with the Saints. He should be fun to watch no matter where the Ravens end up using him.
Saints Sign 14 UDFAs
The Saints became the latest team to announce their undrafted free agent class, inking 14 players. A couple received notable signing bonuses:
- Carl Granderson, DE (Wyoming) ($15,000 signing bonus, $70,000 base salary guaranteed, per Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com. )
- Ethan Greenidge, OT (Villanova) ($7,500 signing bonus, $30,000 base salary guaranteed, per Katzenstein)
- Nick Moore, LS (Georgia)
- Porter Gustin, LB/DE (USC
- Lil’Jordan Humphrey, WR (Texas)
- Derrick Kelly, OT (Florida State)
- Darnell Holland, RB (Kennesaw State)
- Jake Powell, TE (Monmouth)
- Darrell Williams, LB (Auburn)
- Emmanuel Butler, WR (Northern Arizona)
- Chase Hansen, LB (Utah)
- Mike Herndon, OG (Pittsburgh)
- Corbin Kaufusi, DE (BYU)
- Darius Williams, DB (Colorado State-Pueblo)
New Orleans gave Granderson, the Wyoming pass-rusher, a hefty sum of $85K guaranteed. Granderson is a talented player who almost certainly would’ve been drafted if not for his ongoing legal situation. Many analysts gave Granderson a mid-round grade, but he’s facing a July trial on sexual assault charges. Granderson has denied the charges, and it will be a situation worth monitoring this summer.
Greenidge also got significant guarantees, and the Saints could view him as a good longterm developmental option on the offensive line. Gustin was another player many thought had a chance to be drafted, and he was productive in college. In just six games at USC last season, he had 7.5 sacks. He’s struggled with injuries each of the past two seasons, but if he can stay healthy he should have a good shot at making the team.
The Saints sometimes struggled for consistent receiving options behind Michael Thomas last year, and Humphrey had 1,176 yards and nine touchdowns for Texas last season, so he could be worth a look.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/4/19
The latest minor moves from around the NFL:
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: LB D’Juan Hines, DE Lenny Jones (injury settlement)
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: OG Dustin Stanton
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: FB Aaron Ripkowski, DT Henry Mondeaux, WR Josh Crockett
Ripkowski is notable for being the Packers’ fullback for three seasons from 2015-17. None of Mondeaux, Crockett, or Stanton have ever appeared in a regular season game. Hines appeared in 13 games with the Browns last season playing exclusively on special teams, while Jones has been bouncing around various practice squads the past few years.
Chiefs Sign Second-Round WR Mecole Hardman
After signing 17 undrafted free agents earlier today, the Chiefs have also inked the majority of their draft class to contracts. The team announced that they have signed four of their six draft 
picks:
- 2-56: Mecole Hardman, WR (Georgia)
- 6-201: Rashad Fenton, DB (South Carolina)
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6-214: Darwin Thompson, RB (Utah State)
- 7-216: Nick Allegretti, G (Illinois)
The Chiefs didn’t have a first-rounder, so Hardman was ultimately their first selection. The Georgia product was productive during his junior season, hauling in 35 receptions for 543 yards and second touchdowns. He also contributed on special teams, where he returned 30 combined kicks and punts. Considering the uncertainty of Tyreek Hill, Hardman has an opportunity to emerge as one of Patrick Mahomes‘ preferred targets. Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson are currently atop the Chiefs’ depth chart at receiver.
Thompson is another intriguing prospect who could have an opportunity to contribute right away. The Chiefs are currently rostering a three running backs in Damien Williams, Carlos Hyde and Darrel Williams, meaning the rookie should have a chance to make the roster as a third back.
Following these signings, the Chiefs are left with a pair of unsigned draft picks: second-round safety Juan Thornhill (Virginia) and third-round defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (Western Illinois).
Chiefs Sign 17 UDFAs
The Chiefs have announced the signing of 17 undrafted free agents. The entire list is below:
- Dino Boyd, OT (Cincinnati)
- Jalin Burrell, DB (New Mexico)
- Jamal Custis, WR (Syracuse)
- Felton Davis, WR (Michigan State)
- Mark Fields, DB (Clemson)
- Jack Fox, P (Rice)
- Darius Harris, LB (Middle Tennessee)
- Gary Johnson, LB (Texas)
- Jamire Jordan, WR (Fresno State)
- Andre Lindsey, WR (Sacramento State)
- T.J. Linta, QB (Wagner)
- John Lovett, QB (Princeton)
- Dakari Monroe, DB (San Jose State)
- Kyle Shurmur, QB (Vanderbilt)
- Cody Thompson, WR (Toledo)
- Tim Ward, DE (Old Dominion)
- James Williams, RB (Washington State)
With uncertainty surrounding Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs have been hunting for wide receiver help. They apparently focused in on Custis, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the team gave him more than $100K in guaranteed money. This is the highest guarantee for an undrafted receiver in at least the past two years. The Syracuse product had a breakout campaign during his senior season, hauling in 51 receptions for 906 yards and six touchdowns. The Chiefs ended up adding five undrafted receivers in total, and that’s in addition to second-round wideout Mecole Hardman.
Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter) that the team also gave pricey base guarantees to Thompson ($50K), Schumer ($67K), Harris ($50K), and Fox ($45K).
The Fox move is particularly interesting, as Dustin Colquitt has been a mainstay of the Chiefs punting unit since 2005. The 36-year-old had a career-low 45 punts in 2018, although he did manage to place 21 of those inside the 20. With Colquitt eyeing his 15th NFL season, the organization may simply be looking to provide the veteran with some competition.
It’s also notable that the Chiefs added three undrafted quarterbacks. The coaching staff will presumably let the rookies battle during the early parts of camp, with perhaps one of them joining EJ Manuel, Chad Henne, and Chase Litton for the backup quarterback competition.
Patriots Sign 10 UDFAs
The Patriots have added 10 undrafted free agents. Here is the team’s full list:
- Calvin Anderson, OT (Texas)
- Andrew Beck, TE (Texas)
- Nick Brossette, RB (Louisiana State)
- Ryan Davis, WR (Auburn)
- Malik Gant, S (Marshall)
- Tyler Gauthier, OL (Texas)
- Terez Hall, LB (Missouri)
- Jakobi Meyers, WR (NC State)
- D’Angelo Ross, CB (New Mexico)
- Tyree St. Louis, OT (Miami)
The Patriots also announced the signing of defensive lineman Nick Thurman, who was a 2018 undrafted free agent out of Houston.
The Patriots surprised some when they didn’t draft a rookie tight end to replace Rob Gronkowski. However, the team seemingly has high hopes for Beck; Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reports (via Twitter) that the Patriots gave the Texas product $115K in guaranteed money (the highest among the team’s undrafted free agents). The former linebacker had a breakout offensive season in 2018, hauling in 28 receptions for 281 yards and two touchdowns.
The team also gave $85K guaranteed to both Gant and Hall. Gant, a former walk-on at Marshall, finished his collegiate career with a pair of standout seasons, including a 2018 campaign where he tallied 95 tackles and two interceptions. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Hall was equally productive at Missouri, where he finished 2018 with 71 tackles and five sacks.
Considering New England’s lack of receiver depth, the team’s signing of Meyers is noteworthy. The former quarterback transitioned to wideout back in 2016, all leading to a 2018 season where he hauled in 92 receptions for 1,047 yards and four scores.
49ers Sign Third-Round WR Jalen Hurd
The 49ers, who made the league’s first 2019 draft pick signing, got even more deals done to close out the week. The following players are officially in the fold:
- 3-67: Jalen Hurd, WR (Baylor)
- 5-148: Dre Greenlaw, LB (Arkansas)
- 6-176: Kaden Smith, TE (Stanford)
- 6-183: Justin Skule, T (Vanderbilt)
- 6-198: Tim Harris, CB (Virginia)
Hurd, naturally, is the biggest name in the bunch. The wide receiver had an extended journey through the college ranks after spending three years with Tennessee as a running back before transferring to Baylor, where he moved to wide receiver. Hurd had to sit out the 2017 season, but he made up for lost time in 2018 with 69 catches for 946 yards and four touchdowns. He also got some work out of the backfield where he averaged 4.4 yards per carry and added another three TDs.
With those five plus punter Mitch Wishnowsky under contract, the Niners have only two to go – first-round pick Nick Bosa and second round wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/3/19
We’ll keep track the latest late-round draft pick signings here:
- The Ravens announced the signings of running back Justice Hill (fourth round), guard Ben Powers (fourth round), cornerback Iman Marshall (fourth round), and defensive tackle Daylon Mack (fifth round). With that, the Ravens have just four stragglers left to go.
- The Giants inked defensive back Julian Love (fourth round), tackle George Asafo-Adjei (seventh round), and defensive tackle Chris Slayton (seventh round).
- The Packers, as of this writing, have four draft picks under contract – sixth-round cornerback Dexter Williams and seventh-round linebacker Ty Summers signed their deals, following the lead of the club’s first round picks.
Raiders Sign 5 Of 9 Draft Picks
The Raiders already have the majority of their draft class under contract. The following players have signed (all links to go Twitter):
- 4-106: Maxx Crosby, DE (Eastern Michigan)(via Vic Tafur of The Athletic)
- 4-129: Isaiah Johnson, CB (Houston) (via Tafur)
- 4-137: Foster Moreau, TE (LSU) (via Adam Caplan of SiriusXM)
- 5-149: Hunter Renfrow, WR (Clemson) (via Tafur)
- 7-230: Quinton Bell, DE (Prairie View A&M)(via Tafur)
Johnson, a converted wide receiver, notched two interceptions in each of his final two seasons at Houston. Heading into the draft, there was some buzz about him going as high as the second round, so the Raiders were undoubtedly thrilled to land him in the fourth.
“Boy, we love him,” GM Mike Mayock said after the draft. “We’re a press corner team. Jimmy O’Neil, our defensive backs coach, he’s happier than I’ve ever seen him. So now we have some long, press corners that go along with Gareon and everybody else that we have. Gareon Conley, Daryl Worley, and all our guys. Bottom line, we’re ecstatic with those corners.”