NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/17/19
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2019 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Los Angeles Chargers
New York Giants
Pittsburgh Steelers
- DB Marcelis Branch
Seahawks Sign QB Paxton Lynch
The Seahawks have signed quarterback Paxton Lynch, according to the NFL’s transaction wire. The deal was first reported by Ian Furness of KJR Radio (on Twitter). 
Lynch may be a backup option for the Seahawks in 2019 behind starter Russell Wilson. Before this pact, Wilson was the only QB under contract for next season. Brett Hundley, who finished out the year as Wilson’s backup, is set for unrestricted free agency.
Wilson, 31 in November, has had a perfect attendance record since entering the league in 2012. Still, you can’t bank on perfect health in football. For all his warts, Lynch may prove to be a quality QB2 for Seattle.
Lynch tried out for roughly 25% of the league’s teams since being cut by the Broncos in 2018, but was unable to land a contract. The former 26th overall selection in the 2016 draft was beaten out twice for the Broncos’ starting quarterback job by former seventh-round pick Trevor Siemian. In two years with Denver, Lynch managed to start only four games, completing 61.7% of his passes for 792 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions. Among the 52 quarterbacks who attempted at least 125 passes during those two seasons, Lynch ranked 41st in passer rating and 46h in adjusted net yards per attempt.
Bills Sign Lorenzo Alexander To Extension
Linebacker Lorenzo Alexander signed a one-year contract extension with the Bills, according to a team announcement. The new deal will keep Alexander in Buffalo through 2019, his age-36 season. 
Alexander’s one-year extension has a max value of $4.55MM, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The base value of the pact is $3MM, including a $550K signing bonus.
Alexander first joined the Bills in 2016 as a well-traveled veteran who could provide depth and special teams help. As it turns out, he brought much more to the table.
Since signing with Buffalo three years ago, Alexander has started in 35 games, recorded 22 sacks, and made three interceptions. He made the Pro Bowl in 2016 and, last season, he was elected to be a team captain.
His 12.5 sacks in 2016 were especially impressive, but he quietly had another strong year in 2018. His 6.5 sacks were second only to Jerry Hughes (7) and his 73 tackles put him in Buffalo’s top five.
In 2018, Pro Football Focus ranked Alexander as the fourth-best linebacker in the entire NFL. He placed behind only Bobby Wagner, Luke Kuechly, and Zach Brown.
Alexander would have had plenty of suitors in March, but he made it clear that he wanted to stay in Buffalo.
“Obviously, I’m invested,” Alexander said earlier this month when asked about re-signing with the Bills. “I’ve been here three years, I’m invested in the community. I’m invested in this team and this organization. I would like to be able to continue to play here and be able to retire here.”
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/16/18
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/16/19
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2019 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Chicago Bears
Indianapolis Colts
- S Isaiah Johnson
- CB D.J. Killings
- WR Jordan Veasy
Jacksonville Jaguars
- QB Alex McGough
Los Angeles Chargers
- DE Patrick Afriyie
- LB Tre’Von Johnson
- QB Cardale Jones
- WR Justice Liggins
- TE Vince Mayle
- WR Andre Patton
- DB Arrion Springs
Bills Sign Jeremiah Sirles To Extension
The Bills signed offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles to a one-year extension, the team announced on Wednesday. Given Sirles’ lack of playing time in 2018, the news comes as something of a surprise. 
Sirles suited up in 12 games for the Bills and took most of his snaps at right guard. His 140 snaps were not enough to qualify for Pro Football Focus’ rankings, but if they were, Sirles’ score would have placed him in the bottom 25% of guards.
Before joining the Bills in September, Sirles spent the previous two years with the Vikings. Due to injuries, Sirles started ten games in 2016 and made four starts in 2017. The 6’6″ lineman also has experience at right tackle, though he has been playing primarily on the inside over the last two seasons.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/15/19
Here are Tuesday’s reserve/futures contract decisions:
Philadelphia Eagles
- WR Johnny Holton
- WR Marken Michel
Saints To Sign DT Tyrunn Walker
The Saints have agreed to sign defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Walker will provide support in the wake of Sheldon Rankins’ season-ending torn Achilles. Rankins has been formally placed on IR.
Walker first broke into the league with the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He made the roster in his first year, but was a healthy scratch throughout his first pro season. He finally saw the field in 2013 and managed 2.5 sacks in ’14 as a nose tackle for New Orleans. Since then, he’s had stints with the Lions and Rams, but did not see live action in the 2018 season.
Walker, in all likelihood, will not see time in the NFC Championship Game unless he is absolutely needed. Instead, the Saints figure to use interior defenders such as Tyeler Davison, David Onyemata, and Taylor Stallworth to make up for Rankins’ absence.
Rankins, 24, played the most snaps of any Saints defensive tackle in 2018, managing 40 tackles (12 for loss), eight sacks, and 15 quarterback hits in the process. Pro Football Focus, meanwhile, graded Rankins as the No. 23 interior defender among 119 qualifiers.
Chiefs Activate LDT, Cut Parker
The Chiefs activated guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif in advance of Sunday’s AFC Championship tilt against the Patriots (Twitter link via Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star). To make room for him on the roster, the Chiefs cut safety Ron Parker. 
Duvernay-Tardif was forced to go on injured reserve in early October with a fractured fibula. In late December, however, he was designated for return.
Andrew Wylie has been Kansas City’s primary starter in Duvernay-Tardif’s absence. Things have gone well enough with Wylie in the front five, but the Chiefs’ best offensive line configuration has LDT, a recent medical school graduate, in the mix.
Parker, 31, has been with the Chiefs since 2013, although his KC run was briefly interruped in the offseason when he was released from a five-year, $30MM deal and later brought back at a lesser rate.
In the 2018 regular season, Parker wound up starting 14 of his 15 games and amassed 77 tackles, two interceptions, and a sack.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/14/19
Here are Monday’s reserve/futures contract decisions:
Dallas Cowboys
- T Jake Campos
- RB Jordan Chunn
- CB Treston DeCoud
- CB Donovan Olumba
- LB Kyle Queiro
- DT Aziz Shittu
- G Cody Wichmann
Los Angeles Chargers
- K/P Ty Long
New England Patriots
- OL Ryker Mathews
New York Giants
- OLB Avery Moss
- G Chad Slade
Philadelphia Eagles
- LB Asantay Brown
- C Anthony Fabiano
- G Kaleb Johnson
- CB Jeremiah McKinnon
- WR Braxton Miller
- WR Dorren Miller
- DE Joe Ostman
- RB Donnel Pumphrey
- CB Chandon Sullivan
- TE Will Tye
Seattle Seahawks
- DT Jamie Meder