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Seahawks Sign 16 UDFAs

May 4th, 2024 at 8:30am CST by Ben Levine

The Seahawks front office has had a busy week. In addition to signing first-round defensive tackle Byron Murphy to his rookie contract, the organization has added 16 undrafted rookies to the roster:

A handful of Seattle’s UDFAs earned notable bonuses. After compiling 2,993 yards and 21 touchdowns at Boise State over the past three years, running back George Holani got a $15K signing bonus and $100K of his base salary guaranteed, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Elsewhere on offense, Jack Westover earned a $25K signing bonus and $50K guaranteed on his salary, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. The Washington tight end was a productive member of the offense over the past two years, hauling in 77 catches for 775 yards and five touchdowns. South Dakota State offensive lineman Garret Greenfield got the most guaranteed money of the bunch. Wilson notes that the rookie got $195K in guaranteed money, including a $20K signing bonus.

On the other side of the ball, the Seahawks paid of a pair of undrafted defensive linemen. After collecting 17 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss in three seasons at Houston, Nelson Ceaser got $110K guaranteed, including a $10K signing bonus, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson. Grambling State’s Sunny Anderson got the same guarantees to catch on with Seattle, per Wilson.

Dolphins, WR Odell Beckham Jr. Agree To Deal

May 3rd, 2024 at 10:09pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Dolphins’ long-anticipated receiver addition is set to take place. Miami has agreed to terms with Odell Beckham Jr., Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report.

Team and player have long been linked in this case, and the post-draft wave of free agency has now produced an agreement. While an April report suggested Beckham could turn down Dolphins interest due to his asking price, he has in fact taken a deal worth far less than his 2023 Ravens pact.

Rapoport reports this one-year deal is worth up to $8.25MM. The base value, per ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques, is $3MM. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald adds the team was not prepared to raise its offer in terms of guaranteed compensation, but incentives led to this agreement.

The three-time Pro Bowler joined Baltimore on a pact featuring $15MM guaranteed, a surprising figure considering the missed time which preceded it. Beckham had his most productive campaign since 2019 last year (35 receptions, 565 yards), and his 16.1 yards per catch average was the highest mark of his career. An increase in volume will no doubt lower the latter figure, but Beckham is in position to fill Miami’s stated desire for a capable third receiving option.

Not long after the 31-year-old visited the Dolphins in March, a mutual interest was reported to exist. That was confirmed in short order when Miami submitted an offer to Beckham, though Rapoport notes he had more lucrative options on the table. In the end, however, the former Rams Super Bowl winner has accepted the chance to work in a complementary role to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Those two will command a large share of Miami’s targets, but the team lost Cedrick Wilson Jr. in free agency, leaving slot receiver/returner Braxton Berrios as the lone in-house depth WR option featuring much experience. A veteran of 110 games, Beckham will certainly help in that department. A strong season would also boost his market value on a new Dolphins pact or interest from outside teams in 2025.

Miami entered Friday with just over $2.9MM in cap space, so this deal (along with signing the team’s rookie class) will eat up much of the remaining funds available for the time being. Cap space brought about by Xavien Howard‘s release will become available after June 1, but the Dolphins have already accomplished a key secondary roster-building goal with this agreement.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/3/24

May 3rd, 2024 at 10:04pm CST by Ely Allen

Our first draft pick signings post for rookies taken in the third round or later:

Green Bay Packers

Philadelphia Eagles

Pratt was the final of 11 quarterbacks taken in the 2024 NFL Draft last week. A four-year starter for the Green Wave, Pratt was named first-team All-AAC and the AAC Offensive Player of the year in 2023, despite failing to recreate his breakout numbers from 2022 of 27 passing touchdowns to only five interceptions with 10 more scores on the ground. He’ll compete with last year’s fifth-round pick, Sean Clifford, and Alex McGough for backup duties behind Jordan Love.

King was a two-year starter for the Nittany Lions, forgoing his senior year of football for the NFL draft. He failed to reach the success of his sophomore season, in which he tallied 21 passes defensed and three interceptions, but showed enough as a junior to warrant a late-round selection. He’s listed by the Packers as a cornerback but has the potential to add to the entire secondary’s depth as many teams saw him as a safety at the next level.

Wilson was one of two transfer wide receivers to lead the Seminoles’ offense last year, spending his first two years at Arizona State before transferring to Tallahassee. Like the two players above, his best season came in 2022, when he caught 43 balls for 897 yards and five touchdowns. After the arrival of Bills new wideout Keon Coleman last year, Wilson’s contributions lessened to 41-617-2. Wilson provides the Eagles with a massive 6-foot-6, 231-pound frame that he doesn’t always play up to but could create a number of mismatches with at the NFL level. Some thought Wilson may be a tight end as a pro, but Philadelphia has plenty of depth at the position, which could allow them to try and continue developing Wilson as a receiver as a rookie.

Eagles Sign Seven UDFA Rookies

May 3rd, 2024 at 9:28pm CST by Ely Allen

After addressing several positions of need in their nine-man draft class, the Eagles have expanded their rookie class to 16 men. The seven undrafted rookie free agents joining the drafted players are:

*Roster exemption for International Player Pathway Program

Just like they were able to do with many of their draft picks, the Eagles were able to add some major value throughout the undrafted free agent class. Tackle was a position of need that the Eagles were unable to address through the draft, though they did sign former Jets first-round tackle Mekhi Becton to come in as a swing tackle last weekend. Here, they add three more young prospects to the position in Ayedze, Dankwah, and Vakalahi.

All three represent giant, inexperienced projects to the position room. Dankwah, 6-foot-8, 349 pounds, was selected to the All-MEAC first team in each of the last two years despite making only five starts in 2022. The Canada-native is not alone as an international addition as Vakalahi, 6-foot-5, 318 pounds, comes from Brisbane, Australia. Despite zero athletic experience in the past two years as he completed his mission service in Wellington, New Zealand, Vakalahi was discovered when Eagles international scout Chris Naeole walked past Vakalahi’s father, also a large man, while Vakalahi’s parents were vacationing in Hawai’i.

Castles caught five touchdowns for the Volunteers as a graduate transfer after time at both Cal and UC Davis. He was mainly an in-line blocker at Tennessee, but with a 6-foot-4, 244 pound frame and a basketball background, Castles could certainly find a place on an NFL roster if he improves his abilities as a receiver.

It was a surprise to see Hall go undrafted. Ranked by Dane Brugler of The Athletic as the 11th-best defensive tackle and a projected fourth-round pick, Hall somehow fell out of all seven rounds. He doesn’t play with a ton of consistency but could prove impactful as a rotational player should he make the 53-man roster.

Though the Bulldogs were led in rushing yards by Daijun Edwards (880), Milton wasn’t far behind (790) and led the team in rushing touchdowns with 14. Milton is a thumper who could find an impact as a short-yardage or goal-line back, but his significant health issues throughout college prove a major hurdle to overcome moving forward.

Sam led the Tigers in interceptions (3) as another graduate transfer. He spent his first five years of college at McNeese State followed by a season at Marshall. He initially announced he would transfer from Marshall to Tulane before switching to LSU, where he would start all 13 games for the Tigers last year. Though he plays the physical role of a strong, box safety, he has more of the size of a smaller free safety and may have to find a role on special teams in order to make the roster in Philadelphia.

Seahawks Sign First-Round DT Byron Murphy

May 3rd, 2024 at 6:50pm CST by Ely Allen

The Ravens broke the seal on signing some of their drafted players to rookie contracts yesterday, now the Seahawks follow close behind. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Seattle was one of the quicker teams to do the same, signing first-round defensive tackle Byron Murphy to his rookie deal today. Murphy’s deal is the standard four years with a fifth-year option worth $16.08MM that will be fully guaranteed.

Murphy was the first defensive tackle taken off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft and the only one of his position taken in the first round. There was an early run at defensive tackle in the second round with four taken in the first seven picks of Day 2 and seven taken overall in the second round. Thanks to an historic run of offensive players to open the draft, though, only Murphy will be provided the fifth-year option granted to players drafted on Day 1.

The position’s top prospect left Austin after only his first year as a full-time starter his junior season. Over his three-year career with the Longhorns, Murphy compiled eight sacks and 15.0 tackles for loss, with five sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss coming in 2023. His efforts last year earned him first-team All-Big 12 honors and second-team All-American honors. He brings to Seattle an explosive first step and a competitive drive worthy of his first-round draft status.

The Seahawks will likely see him compete for snaps early on a defensive line that returns starters Jarran Reed, Dre’Mont Jones, and Leonard Williams, who re-signed with the team after being acquired at the trade deadline last year. Williams is a permanent fixture in the starting lineup, while Reed and Jones both had strong 2023 seasons.

Murphy is talented enough to push for starting time in place of Reed or Jones immediately. Even if he doesn’t immediately supplant one of the two as a full-time starter, defensive linemen rotate more than most other positions based on snap counts and situational matchups. Murphy should factor into the Seahawks’ defensive front early and often as a rookie, pushing the starters for playing time if he doesn’t become a starter himself by Week 1.

Ravens Add 22 UDFAs

May 3rd, 2024 at 12:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Ravens made nine selections over the course of the weekend, but that still left plenty of room for post-draft additions. That has paved the way for a large UDFA class. Here are the 22 players Baltimore has agreed to terms with:

  • Jelani Baker, WR (Limestone)
  • Beau Brade, S (Maryland)
  • Corey Bullock, G (Maryland)
  • Tre’Darious Colbert, DT (Maryland)
  • Chris Collier, RB (Lock Haven)
  • Ryan Cooper, DB (Oregon State)
  • Darrian Dalcourt, G (Alabama)
  • Joe Evans, DE (Iowa)
  • Ja’Mion Franklin, DT (Duke)
  • De’Angelo Hardy, WR (North Central)
  • Deion Jennings, LB (Rutgers)
  • Julian Pearl, T (Illinois)
  • Randen Plattner, LS (Kansas State)
  • Yvandy Rigby, LB (Temple)
  • Mike Rigerman, TE (Findlay)
  • Tayvion Robinson, WR (Kentucky)
  • Riley Sharp, TE (Oregon State)
  • Darrell Simpson, T (Tulsa)
  • Jordan Toles, DB (Morgan State)
  • Dayton Wade, WR (Ole Miss)
  • Tramel Walthour, DT (Georgia)
  • Isaiah Washington, WR (Rutgers)

It came as something of a surprise when Brade did not hear his name called on Day 3. The senior earned an Honorable All-Big Ten nod in each of the past two seasons, leading the Terrapins in tackles both years. Brade racked up 177 stops, three interceptions and 14 pass breakups across his four seasons in college. The Clarksville, Maryland native will be able to begin his pro career with his hometown team if he makes the Ravens’ opening roster.

Baltimore added a vertical threat (fourth-rounder Devontez Walker) to the passing game during the draft, but two of the team’s undrafted wideouts will receive a look in part based on their size. Hardy (6-2) and Washington (6-3) each have a larger frame than that of the Ravens’ current receiver options. The former owns the school record for career touchdowns with 58, 20 of which were scored last season. The latter, meanwhile, put up much smaller production (74 receptions, 927 yards and five seasons). Both will look to earn a depth roster spot or a place on the practice squad.

By not drafting a linebacker, the Ravens all-but assured Trenton Simpson of a starting role in 2024. That place was opened up by Patrick Queen‘s free agent departure, and the team’s other options are in line for special teams duties. The faith shown in Simpson is further illustrated by the fact Baltimore’s UDFA class only contains two linebackers. Both Rigby (who posted 5.5 tackles for loss in 2022) and Jones (who eclipsed 90 stops in each of the past two seasons) will look to carve out a spot based on third phase capabilities at a minimum.

Bills Sign WR Chase Claypool, DE Dawuane Smoot

May 3rd, 2024 at 11:29am CST by Adam La Rose

The Bills continue to be active in the post-draft free agent market. Buffalo announced on Friday that the previously-reported agreement with linebacker Deion Jones has become official. The team has also added wideout Chase Claypool as well as defensive end Dawuane Smoot, though. All three players are attached to one-year deals.

Claypool showcased considerable potential during his first two seasons in the league. Operating as a key member of the Steelers’ offense, the former second-rounder posted 1,845 combined yards and 13 total touchdowns between the 2020 and ’21 campaigns. Things have not gone according to plan since, however, with a trade to the Bears in 2022 not producing the desired impact.

Claypool made just 18 catches in 10 games with Chicago, and he was on the move once again this year when he was traded to the Dolphins. The 25-year-old Canadian’s Miami stint produced only four receptions in nine games, and the team is in the market for a WR3 upgrade. Claypool visited the Seahawks in April, but to little surprise that did not yield a pre-draft agreement. Buffalo will bring him in ahead of offseason practices and training camp and in doing so provide him the opportunity to carve out a roster spot.

The Bills’ receiver room looks much different with Gabe Davis having departed in free agency prior to the trade which sent Stefon Diggs to the Texans. Buffalo traded down to the No. 33 spot in the draft and used that pick on Keon Coleman, and the team followed up that move by signing Quintez Cephus. Claypool will compete with the latter for a depth spot in the receiver pecking order this summer.

Smoot is likewise headed to Buffalo not long after meeting with another team. The 29-year-old recently visited the Texans, but he will instead look to earn a roster spot with the Bills. Smoot delivered a strong outing in 2021 (10 starts, six sacks), but an Achilles tear suffered the following year hurt his market value. Playing out a one-year deal last season, he posted just one sack while logging a rotational defensive role.

Buffalo has Von Miller on the books through 2027, and the team has retained both A.J. Epenesa and Greg Rousseau recently. The former re-signed on a two-year deal before the latter had his 2025 fifth-year option picked up. Smoot will look to earn a complementary place behind those three returnees in Buffalo this season, his first spent outside of Jacksonville.

The Bills entered Friday with only $2.8MM in cap space, much of which will be needed to sign their rookie class. While none of the Jones, Claypool or Smoot deals will be particularly lucrative, they will nevertheless use up much of the team’s remaining financial resources available until the post-June 1 release of Tre’Davious White frees up more spending power.

Chiefs Decline WR Kadarius Toney’s Fifth-Year Option

May 3rd, 2024 at 8:45am CST by Adam La Rose

Kadarius Toney is on track to remain with the Chiefs this season, but his future beyond that point is uncertain. The ex-Giant receiver’s fifth-year option has been declined, per ESPN’s Adam Teicher.

[RELATED: Fifth-Year Option Tracker]

Toney would have cost $14.35MM in 2025 had Kansas City picked up his option, so it comes as little surprise the team has elected against doing so. The 25-year-old had a season to forget in 2023, finding himself on the injury report 19 weeks out of 21 (a matter of contention by the end of the postseason) and frequently struggling with drops. In all, Toney totaled just 169 yards and one touchdown on 27 catches.

Midway through his second season in the league, the Florida product was dealt to Kansas City in a move underscoring his disappointing tenure with New York. Things have not gone according to plan with the Chiefs so far, but head coach Andy Reid has expressed confidence in Toney playing a role in the team’s offense in 2024. With the coming season doubling as his walk year, it will be interesting to see how he performs.

The Chiefs won a second straight Super Bowl last season, but they did so without a consistent or efficient passing game. Tight end Travis Kelce will remain the team’s top receiving target for at least two more years, but it came as no surprise that the team has emphasized WR additions this offseason. Marquise Brown was signed in free agency on a one-year deal, and Kansas City moved up in the first round of the draft to select Xavier Worthy.

Both of those players are positioned to have a notable impact in 2024, something which may not be the case for Toney. The team still has fellow wideouts Justin Watson, Skyy Moore and Rashee Rice in the fold (although the latter’s future is currently in question). Staying healthy will be an obvious priority for Toney, and doing so could create a path to playing time in 2024. If that does not turn out to be the case, however, he will likely make his first trip to free agency without much fanfare.

Steelers To Decline RB Najee Harris’ Fifth-Year Option

May 2nd, 2024 at 10:03pm CST by Adam La Rose

A report from January indicated the Steelers would likely pick up running back Najee Harris‘ fifth-year option. The team has instead gone in the other direction, per multiple reports. Harris is thus on track for free agency next offseason.

[RELATED: Fifth-Year Option Tracker]

As is the case with all backs drafted early, Harris faced massive expectations upon arrival in Pittsburgh. The Alabama product earned a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie, totaling 1,200 rushing yards while also hauling in 74 receptions. Over the past two seasons, Pittsburgh’s offense has regressed in the passing game but Harris’ ground production has remained steady.

The 26-year-old racked up 1,034 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 2022, recording one more yard and one more score on the ground this past season. Harris has, however, done so while logging a substantial workload and struggling with efficiency. His yards per carry average sits at 3.9 for his career, and he has logged 978 touches through three years. Especially given the market at the RB position, concerns related to his durability may have informed the Steelers’ decision.

Pittsburgh would have owed Harris $6.79MM next season by picking up the option. Today’s move leaves that off the table, although ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reports the team is still open to working out a deal keeping him in place beyond 2024. Needless to say, much will depend on Harris’ performance this season as he shares time with Jaylen Warren.

The latter played sparingly as a rookie in 2022, but he took on a notable role last season. Warren averaged 5.3 yards per carry while adding 61 receptions for 370 yards in the passing game. That has led to calls for the former UDFA to receive a larger share of the Steelers’ offense than Harris, and it will be interesting to see how new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith divvies up the work between the two. Given the team’s heavy investments up front during this year’s draft, Pittsburgh is set up for a ground-heavy attack.

While this decision creates a degree of uncertainty in the backfield, the same is true under center entering the 2024 season. The Steelers have also declined Justin Fields‘ option, leaving he and projected starter Russell Wilson on track for free agency next offseason. How Pittsburgh’s offense takes shape – and the degree to which Harris is involved – will be a key storyline to follow.

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