Saints, Demario Davis Finalizing Extension
The Saints have made a number of changes to the contract status of linebacker Demario Davis. Chief among those is a one-year extension to his existing contract, as detailed by ESPN’s Field Yates. 
As a result of the re-working of his existing pact, coupled with the extra year being tacked on, Davis can earn up to $18MM in new money across the next three seasons. One-third of that total is represented by incentives, but the new year in 2024 also includes a $10MM base salary and $2MM roster bonus.
No changes were made to his 2022 cap status, meaning that he will carry a charge of $5.9MM for the upcoming season. In 2023, Davis will see a slight reduction in his salary, but the addition of an equally-valued workout bonus; the Saints are also guaranteeing $1MM of his compensation for that season. While his cap hit will spike next year, the Saints would essentially see no financial relief from cutting him.
In all, as Yates writes, today’s move provides the 33-year-old with “additional security” regarding his financial future. It comes in the wake of recent speculation on that very subject, with Davis himself acknowledging the potential uncertainty he faced in the latter stages of his career. Now, he and the Saints can move forward with greater confidence, as Davis looks to continue his consistent production in New Orleans. The Arkansas State alum has totalled no fewer than 105 tackles in each of his four seasons with the team, missing just one contest during that span. He has been named an All-Pro in each of the past three years.
With an important piece of business done, an integral member of the new-look Saints defense is on the books through 2024, which should allow him to continue his standard of play for at least the near future.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 6/23/22
Here is the latest mid- or late-round pick to sign his rookie deal:
New York Jets
- DE Micheal Clemons (fourth round, Texas A&M)
Clemons played four years for the Aggies after spending a year in JUCO at Cisco College. He saved his best season for last totaling 7.0 sacks, 11.0 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and two passes defensed during his final year in College Station. Clemons joins rookie Jermaine Johnson II in competition with Carl Lawson, John Franklin-Myers, Vinny Curry, Jabari Zuniga, Bryce Huff, and Jacob Martin for playing time at defensive end.
With the singing, the Jets now have two unsigned draft picks: second-round Iowa State running back Breece Hall and fourth-round Louisiana offensive lineman Max Mitchell.
Patriots Sign Round 2 WR Tyquan Thornton, Round 4 QB Bailey Zappe To Wrap Class
Second- and third-day draftees came to terms with the Patriots on their rookie contracts Thursday. After signing Tyquan Thornton and Bailey Zappe to their four-year pacts, the team has completed its draft deals for 2022.
A Baylor-produced wide receiver with a 4.28-second 40-yard dash time on his pre-draft resume, Thornton enticed the Patriots to trade up four spots — from No. 54 to No. 50 — to acquire him. The Bill Belichick-era Pats have notoriously struggled to identify college receiver talent, at least with high picks, and recent Baylor wideouts to come through the league have delivered inconsistent pro careers. The Pats will aim to buck both trends here.
Baylor has sent the likes of Denzel Mims, Corey Coleman, Josh Gordon and Kendall Wright into the league as first- or second-round picks (Gordon was a Round 2 supplemental choice). Some of those players have enjoyed moments or short stretches of production, but the Big 12 program has not seen its top pass-catching cogs enjoy extended runs as starters. New England has swung and missed on highly drafted wideouts N’Keal Harry, Aaron Dobson and Chad Jackson over the past 16 years — the only first- or second-round wideouts the team has chosen — but obviously did quite well with late-rounders Julian Edelman and Matthew Slater. UDFA Jakobi Meyers has played well through three seasons, too, earning a second-round RFA tender from the team this offseason.
Although Thornton broke through as a senior by catching 62 passes for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns, he surpassed 17 yards per reception during both his freshman and sophomore years. In addition to Thornton, the Pats added DeVante Parker via trade and Lil’Jordan Humphrey late in the offseason. That duo joins the Meyers-Kendrick Bourne–Nelson Agholor trio. Harry remains on the roster but has been in trade rumors for multiple years now.
Zappe is coming off a historically productive season in his lone fall at a Division I-FBS program. The transfer passer broke Joe Burrow‘s recent FBS record by throwing 62 touchdown passes (compared to 11 interceptions). Zappe, a Houston Baptist import, also tallied 5,967 passing yards. Zappe played in a pass-crazed system and will attempt to transition to the pros, attempting to develop behind Mac Jones and Brian Hoyer.
Here is New England’s 2022 draft class:
Round 1: No. 29 (from 49ers through Dolphins and Chiefs) Cole Strange, G (UT-Chattanooga) (signed)
Round 2: No. 50 (from Dolphins through Chiefs) Tyquan Thornton, WR (Baylor) (signed)
Round 3: No. 85 Marcus Jones, CB (Houston) (signed)
Round 4: No. 121 (from Dolphins through Chiefs) Jackie Jones, CB (Arizona State) (signed)
Round 4: No. 127 Pierre Strong, RB (South Dakota State) (signed)
Round 4: No. 137 (from Rams through Texans and Panthers) Bailey Zappe, QB (Western Kentucky) (signed)
Round 6: No. 183 (from Texans) Kevin Harris, RB (South Carolina) (signed)
Round 6: No. 200 Sam Roberts, DT (Northwest Missouri State) (signed)
Round 6: No. 210: Chasen Hines, C (LSU) (signed)
Round 7: No. 245 (from Cowboys through Texans) Andrew Stueber, OG (Michigan) (signed)
Broncos Sign Fourth-Rounders Damarri Mathis, Eyioma Uwazurike To Wrap Draft Class
Each of the Broncos’ 2022 draftees is now signed. Fourth-round picks Damarri Mathis and Eyioma Uwazurike agreed to terms on their four-year rookie contracts Thursday, finalizing the slot-deal negotiation process for the year in Denver.
The Broncos chose the two defenders back-to-back in Round 4, with Mathis going 115th overall and Uwazurike 116th. The duo can be expected to play depth roles for a Broncos team featuring more experienced players at cornerback and on their defensive line.
A corner out of Pittsburgh, Mathis missed the 2020 season but returned in 2021 to solidify his status as a draftable prospect. He picked up two more interceptions, finishing his career with five, and helped the Panthers to the Peach Bowl. The Broncos return starters Ronald Darby and Patrick Surtain II and signed K’Waun Williams to work in the slot. Mathis figures to join third-year corner Michael Ojemudia as a reserve option.
Uwazurike, who went to Iowa State, enjoyed a breakout 2021 season. Using his extra year allowed by the NCAA following the COVID-19 pandemic, Uwazurike recorded nine sacks and 12 tackles for loss for the Cyclones last season. The interior D-lineman should be expected to work as a rotational presence for a Broncos team that has Dre’Mont Jones and Mike Purcell returning. The team, which included Shelby Harris in the Russell Wilson trade, added another starter in D.J. Jones via free agency soon after.
Here is how the Broncos’ 2022 draft class looks:
Round 2: No. 64 (from Rams) Nik Bonitto, LB (Oklahoma) (signed)
Round 3: No. 80 (from Saints through Texans) Greg Dulcich, TE (UCLA) (signed)
Round 4: No. 115 Damarri Mathis, CB (Pittsburgh) (signed)
Round 4: No. 116 (from Seahawks) Eyioma Uwazurike, DT (Iowa State) (signed)
Round 5: No. 152 Delarrin Turner-Yell, S (Oklahoma) (signed)
Round 5: No. 162 (from Eagles through Texans) Montrell Washington, WR (Samford) (signed)
Round 5: No. 171 (from Packers): Luke Wattenberg, C (Washington) (signed)
Round 6: No. 206 (from Buccaneers through Jets and Eagles) Matt Henningsen, DT (Wisconsin) (signed)
Round 7: No. 232 Faion Hicks, CB (Wisconsin) (signed)
Steelers Sign First-Round QB Kenny Pickett
Weeks away from training camps opening, all 2022 first-round picks are now under contract. Kenny Pickett concluded this signing period by agreeing to terms on his rookie deal Thursday morning, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Pickett’s Pittsburgh contract runs through 2025, with the Steelers having a fifth-year option to exercise by May of that year. Pickett’s slot deal is expected to pay him approximately $14MM. That is down from the contract Ben Roethlisberger signed in August 2004 (six years, $22.26MM), when first-rounders received far more money, but the franchise’s heir apparent will still collect a nice chunk of change to start his career.
The structure of this deal is believed to have held up the signing. But there will be no holdout drama with this year’s first-round class. While the slot system introduced in 2011 streamlined rookie signings, select first-rounders have gone into training camp without deals in the years since. Pickett can now focus solely on attempting to win the Steelers’ starting job.
Like Roethlisberger 18 years ago, Pickett may enter the season as a backup. Free agency addition Mitchell Trubisky worked ahead of the Pitt-produced QB throughout minicamp. Although things can certainly change once more relevant practices and then preseason games commence, the Steelers may be content letting Pickett begin his development on the sideline.
Pickett, 24, started four seasons with the ACC program and played in five, taking advantage of the additional eligibility year the NCAA allowed following the pandemic-altered 2020 slate. Pickett capitalized on the extra year, breaking through with 42 touchdown passes (with just seven interceptions) and 4,319 yards in 2021. This also came with significant bumps in completion percentage (67%) and yards per attempt (8.7).
The production enticed the Steelers to draft the QB that played in their home stadium 20th overall — two rounds before any other passer was chosen this year. That draft slot positions Pickett to begin his QB1 run before the passers who went off the board a day later. When the Steelers make the transition will be one of the top storylines associated with the AFC North team this season.
This signing also finishes up the Steelers’ draft-choice agreements for 2022. Here is Pittsburgh’s class:
Round 1: No. 20 Kenny Pickett, QB (Pittsburgh) (signed)
Round 2: No. 52 George Pickens, WR (Georgia) (signed)
Round 3: No. 84 DeMarvin Leal, DE (Texas A&M) (signed)
Round 4: No. 138 Calvin Austin III, WR (Memphis) (signed)
Round 6: No. 208 (from Chiefs) Connor Heyward, TE (Michigan State) (signed)
Round 7: No. 225 (from Jets) Mark Robinson, LB (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 7: No. 241 Chris Oladokun, QB (South Dakota State) (signed)
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 6/22/22
Here are the latest mid- and late-round picks to sign their four-year rookie contracts:
Minnesota Vikings
- CB Akayleb Evans (fourth round, Missouri)
Evans transferred to Missouri from Tulsa for the 2021 campaign and put himself on the NFL map after compiling 29 tackles, a pair of forced fumbles, and one interception. Thanks to his performance, the Vikings used pick No. 118 to select him during the draft. The rookie will likely compete with the likes of Harrison Hand, Andrew Booth, and Kris Boyd for backup reps.
With the signing, the Vikings now have two unsigned rookies: second-round cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. and second-round offensive guard Ed Ingram.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/22/22
Today’s minor transactions
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: TE Kahale Warring
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: OL Pier-Olivier Lestage
Patriots, G Cole Strange Agree To Deal
One of two first-rounders who had not signed their rookie contracts, Cole Strange is set to make his Patriots employment official. The rookie guard is expected to sign his deal Wednesday, InsidetheBirds.com’s Adam Caplan tweets.
Strange’s signing will leave Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett as the league’s lone unsigned first-rounder. Strange’s four-year deal will include a fifth-year option and, based on the final three first-rounders’ contractual terms, be fully guaranteed.
The Patriots drafted Strange 29th overall, and although the Tennessee-Chattanooga lineman was not expected to go in Round 1, this year’s Nos. 30-32 picks — George Karlaftis, Daxton Hill and Lewis Cine — were given fully guaranteed contracts. This has marked a progression for players chosen late in the first round. When the 2011 CBA began this era of rookie deals, late-first-round picks’ contracts were not fully guaranteed.
Strange is expected to be an immediate starter for the Pats, who saw 2021 guard starters Shaq Mason and Ted Karras depart. The Pats traded Mason to the Buccaneers for a fifth-round pick, doing so after Karras defected to the Bengals in free agency. Strange is expected to join Michael Onwenu as New England’s first-string guards.
Using his COVID-19-created additional eligibility year, Strange ended up a five-year starter for the Mocs. The 24-year-old blocker spent six years at the Division I-FCS program, redshirting in 2016. Although, the pandemic drastically altered the FCS squads’ schedules in 2020. Chattanooga played five games as part of its 2020 campaign. Strange returned in 2021 to start nine games at left guard, his primary college spot, and two at left tackle.
Buccaneers To Release P Bradley Pinion
The Buccaneers will not continue their punting competition into training camp. They are releasing veteran Bradley Pinion, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter).
Tampa Bay drafted Jake Camarda in the fourth round, pointing to Pinion having a true competitor for his post. The team declared that battle over early. Chosen 133rd overall, Camarda went off the board three spots after the Ravens made Jordan Stout this year’s first punter drafted.
This move will not cost the Bucs anything in dead money, with the guarantees on Pinion’s through-2022 contract having been paid. The Bucs will save around $2MM with this release.
A seven-year veteran, Pinion signed a four-year deal worth $11MM to join the Bucs in 2019. He had previously been the 49ers’ punter, working in that role from 2015-18. The Clemson alum averaged 45.2 yards per punt during the Bucs’ 2020 Super Bowl LV-winning season, but that figure dropped by nearly three yards last year.
The former fifth-round pick missed only two games during his three-year Tampa Bay stay, but injuries did factor into his tenure. Pinion played through a torn hip labrum last season, but Garafolo notes he passed a physical Tuesday. This should lead to some interest in the 28-year-old specialist ahead of training camp.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/21/22
Today’s minor NFL transactions:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Dakota Allen
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: TE Brandon Dillon
Allen was a seventh-round pick by the Rams in 2019. He eventually made his way to the Raiders and Jaguars, where he appeared in five combined games as a rookie. Between 2020 and 2021, the linebacker saw time in 27 games for Jacksonville, compiling 27 tackles and one forced fumble while primarily playing on special teams.
Dillon signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2019, and he ended up spending the better part of three seasons with the organization. He appeared in five total games for the Vikings, including one this past season. He has one career catch.