Saints To Sign OL Josh Andrews
New Orleans is adding another post-draft veteran. The team agreed to terms on a one-year deal with offensive lineman Josh Andrews on Monday, according to his agent (on Twitter).
Although Andrews has only made four starts throughout his career, he has been in the NFL since 2014. The former Eagles UDFA spent last season with the Falcons.
[RELATED: Saints Sign LB Eric Wilson]
Andrews spent four years with the Eagles, collecting a Super Bowl ring for his backup role on Philadelphia’s 2017 squad, and landed with the Vikings in 2018. While the Oregon State product returned to Philadelphia in 2018, he finished that season with the Colts, who kept him around through the 2019 campaign as well. Andrews started four games with the Jets in 2020 and played in two games as a Falcon last year, having signed with Atlanta for the veteran minimum. It would surprise if this deal was worth more than that low-seven-figure amount.
The 30-year-old blocker will join other vets vying for backup jobs on the Saints’ O-line. James Hurst and Forrest Lamp also reside as backup options for a Saints O-line that returns four starters from last season and has first-round pick Trevor Penning with a clear avenue toward the starting left tackle gig.
Saints Sign LB Eric Wilson
The Saints continue to add veteran help post-draft. While Eric Wilson is not a New Orleans native like Tyrann Mathieu or Jarvis Landry, he represents a veteran with starter experience to join the team in recent days.
Wilson signed with the Saints on Monday, joining running back Devine Ozigbo in doing so. This will be Wilson’s fourth NFL team.
A full-time Vikings starter in 2020, Wilson broke through for a team that previously used him as a part-timer alongside Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr. With the latter suffering a season-ending injury that September, Wilson recorded 122 tackles (nine for loss) and added three sacks and three interceptions. Still, major interest did not come his way in free agency. The former UDFA out of Cincinnati signed a one-year deal with the Eagles in April 2021 but received in-season walking papers. He finished last year with the Texans.
Wilson, 27, will join a Saints off-ball linebacking corps fronted by 10th-year performer Demario Davis. Beyond Davis, the Saints did not have a full-timer at linebacker last season. They started Pete Werner and Kwon Alexander in eight games apiece. Alexander is no longer with the team. Werner is a 2021 second-round pick who should have an inside track to play alongside Davis. The Saints also roster 2020 third-rounder Zack Baun. Wilson, who also started 10 games from 2018-19, stands to represent some insurance for a Saints team that has veterans across its defense.
Ozigbo, who played in 19 games with the Jaguars from 2019-21, caught on with the Saints last year. He will rejoin a Saints backfield stable that consists of Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram, Tony Jones and Dwayne Washington. To make room on their roster, the Saints waived offensive lineman Cohl Cabral, wide receiver Jalen McCleskey and linebacker Joel Dublanko.
Eagles Sign Rookie LB Nakobe Dean
One of the prospects who fell much farther down the board than expected in last month’s draft has signed his rookie contract. The Eagles announced on Monday that they have inked third round linebacker Nakobe Dean to his first NFL deal. 
[RELATED: Eagles Select Dean At No. 83]
Dean enjoyed a highly productive three-year career at Georgia. His sophomore campaign saw him make 71 tackles, as he grew into an integral role on the team’s defense. That was followed up by an improved performance in 2021; he posted 72 tackles, including 10.5 for a loss. He also added six sacks and a pair of interceptions.
Seen by many as the engine driving the Bulldogs’ lights-out defense, Dean was one of many members of the unit to receive notable accolades. He won the Dick Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker, in addition to being named a consensus First-Team All-American in 2021. That had him pegged as no worse than the second-best inside ‘backer in the class, and led to him being widely projected as a first round pick.
However, teams were hesitant to draft Dean for two main reasons. The first was related to health concerns; many believed that pectoral surgery would cost him his rookie season, though there are early indications that may not be the case. The second had to do with his measurables – a five-foot-eleven, 220-pound frame coupled with an underwhelming 40-yard dash time led to concerns about his potential at the NFL level.
While Dean therefore had to wait much longer the rest of his college teammates to hear his name called, the Eagles were able to acquire a potential steal in the third round. He will have the chance to continue playing behind defensive tackle Jordan Davis, whom Philadelphia selected with their top pick, while playing a role in a re-vamped Eagles LB room.
Falcons Sign Geronimo Allison
Geronimo Allison has found his third home in the NFL. The veteran wide receiver has signed with the Falcons, as the team announced on Monday. 
Allison, 28, began his career in 2016 with the Packers. He put up consistent numbers as a complimentary piece of the team’s offense, scoring six total touchdowns and averaging 11.7 yards per catch during his time in Green Bay. After an underwhelming 2019 campaign, though, he signed with the Lions the following offseason.
The former UDFA opted out of that season, however, so he didn’t make his Detroit debut until this year. Allison appeared in just three games, failing to register a catch. At six-foot-three and 200 pounds, he still generated interest as a free agent this offseason. One of the teams which worked him out earlier this month was the Ravens, a club in need of additions at the position.
Another, not long after, was the Falcons. Allison should have a path to a roster spot on a team which lost Calvin Ridley to suspension and Russell Gage in free agency. The team used its top pick on Drake London and traded for Bryan Edwards, but there should be room for him as an experienced depth option. He will look to contribute on a rebuilding offense led by those new wideouts, quarterback Marcus Mariota and tight end Kyle Pitts.
Packers Finalizing Extension With Jaire Alexander
The Packers signed one of their stars to a massive extension earlier this offseason with Aaron Rodgers. They have done so again with cornerback Jaire Alexander. The team is extending him on a four-year, $84MM contract (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). 
As Schefter notes, the deal includes a $30MM signing bonus, which is a record for corners and will allow him to earn $31MM in 2022. Overall, the annual average of $21MM per year represents another high-mark at the position, and makes him the third CB to eclipse the $20MM-per-season plateau (along with Jalen Ramsey and Denzel Ward).
While those numbers are high, only Alexander’s signing bonus is guaranteed. Among cornerbacks, Alexander agreed to deal that slots him only 12th in terms of fully guaranteed money. That said, the Pro Bowl cornerback should be expected to be with the Packers for a while. His 2025 and ’26 base salaries, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, jump to $16.2MM and $18.2MM, respectively. Alexander’s deal also includes an $8MM roster bonus in 2024. This transaction continues the Packers’ pattern of not guaranteeing any money to a non-quarterback beyond the first year, Florio adds, noting only they and the Bengals still use this old-school method.
A first round pick in 2018, Alexander has been an immediate starter and anchor of the team’s secondary since his arrival. He was named a Pro Bowler for the first time in 2020, leading to increased optimism for this past season. The 25-year-old was limited to just four regular season games due to a shoulder injury, however. With the team having picked up his fifth-year option, it was already a guarantee he would be suiting up for Green Bay for at least the 2022 campaign.
The two sides began negotiations on a long-term extension this offseason, one which saw plenty of other notable moves being made by the team to try and stay competitive while remaining cap compliant. It came out not long after free agency began that the Louisville product was seeking a deal which would place him at the top of the CB market. This news confirms that he has accomplished that goal.
Schefter adds that Alexander’s cap number will be lowered in 2022 by virtue of his base salary being valued at just over $1MM. That will help the Packers absorb another record-breaking contract as they try to extend their Super Bowl window. Alexander will remain with the team through 2026 at the head of a secondary also featuring the likes of Eric Stokes, Rasul Douglas, Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/15/22
We will keep track of today’s minor moves right here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Nick Grant, OL Greg Long
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: S Tre Webb
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Jared Scott
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: QB Felix Harper
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: WR Willie Johnson IV
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: OL Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: WR Jalen McCleskey
Bills Add 11 Undrafted Free Agents
May 15: The Bills have added 10th and 11th players to their UDFA list, signing Marshall offensive lineman Will Ulmer, as Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus tweets, and defensive lineman C.J. Brewer from Coastal Carolina, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com.
Ulmer started a school-record 57 games for the Thundering Herd, and his run-blocking prowess and mean streak have been praised by scouts. As one might expect for a UDFA, however, his technique is said to be quite raw at this point.
Brewer was a five-year contributor for the Chanticleers, utilizing the fifth year of eligibility granted due to COVID-19. In his last three years, Brewer contributed a combined 14.0 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss, impressive numbers for a player who lines up mostly on the interior of the line.
Both players were able to secure their new roster spots after successful tryouts at the Bills’ rookie minicamp.
May 14: The 2022 undrafted free agent class’ reveal is nearly complete. The Bills became the latest team to unveil their UDFA contingent:
- Alec Anderson, T (UCLA)
- Raheem Blackshear, RB (Virginia Tech)
- Travon Fuller, CB (Tulsa)
- Kingsley Jonathan, DE (Syracuse)
- Derek Kerstetter, G (Texas)
- Tanner Owen, T (Northwest Missouri State)
- Neil Pau’u, WR (BYU)
- Malik Williams, WR (Appalachian State)
- Jalen Wydermyer, TE (Texas A&M)
Once viewed as a potential early- or mid-round draftee, Wydermeyer fell to the UDFA level despite forgoing his senior season with the Aggies. The 6-foot-3 tight end caught 40 passes for a career-high 515 yards and four touchdowns as a junior and was a regular in the SEC program’s offense in each of his three College Station seasons — each ending in second-team All-SEC acclaim.
Fuller spent time as Wydermeyer’s teammate, transferring to Tulsa after four seasons with Texas A&M. Kerstetter started at four O-line positions (all but left tackle), while Anderson spent most of his Bruins career at right tackle. Owen started all 52 career games at Northwest Missouri State, one of Division II’s top programs. Blackshear spent three seasons at Rutgers and two at Virginia Tech; he led the Hokies in rushing (757 yards, six touchdowns) last season.
Dolphins To Sign Melvin Ingram
Another veteran pass rusher has found a new home. Melvin Ingram is signing with the Dolphins, reports Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network (Twitter link). 
The recently-turned 33-year-old spent nine years with the Chargers. Beginning in 2014, he emerged as a disruptive presence against both the pass and the run, eclipsing the 10-sack mark in 2015 and 2017. The latter campaign saw him earn the first of three consecutive Pro Bowl nods.
Ingram ended his tenure with the team this offseason, signing with the Steelers to bookend All-Pro T.J. Watt. The move was met with optimism from both an individual and team perspective, but things didn’t go according to plan at any point during the season. Playing a smaller role than he did at any point as a starter with the Chargers, Ingram totalled just 10 tackles and one sack as a Steeler.
In November, Pittsburgh honored his trade request, sending him to Kansas City. He matched his sack total from his brief Steelers tenure, but his arrival coincided with the Chiefs’ general defensive turnaround, and he added a pair of sacks in three postseason games. As a result, the team expressed an interest in re-signing the South Carolina alum.
That possibility seemed to grow in likelihood when the Chiefs placed the rarely-used UFA tender on Ingram. Doing so would have given them exclusive negotiating rights after July 22nd, while guaranteeing Ingram a Chiefs contract of at least $4.4MM. As a result of this deal with the Dolphins, Kansas City will be in line for a compensatory pick next year.
While it may come as a slight surprise Ingram is on the move once again, the fact that his destination is Miami shouldn’t be one. The Dolphins hosted him just over one month ago, signalling their interest. He will join a Dolphins edge group which already featured the re-signed Emmanuel Ogbah and 2021 first-rounder Jaelan Phillips. Ingram should be able to play at least a rotational role on what figures to be a strong Miami defense.
Texans Sign First-Rounder Kenyon Green
Several days after agreeing to terms with No. 3 overall pick Derek Stingley Jr., the Texans have signed the second of their two first-round choices in 2022. Per Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, Houston has inked No. 15 overall selection Kenyon Green to his rookie deal.
It will be a four-year, $15.9MM pact for Green, all of which is fully-guaranteed. Of course, the contract will also come with a fifth-year option.
Green, a Texas A&M product, was widely seen as the top guard in the draft, and he was indeed the first guard off the board. Said Houston GM Nick Caserio, “[h]e’s been a really productive, consistent player. He played tackle. He played guard. I would say he is probably a better guard than he is a tackle. I think he is probably more of an inside player, but we’ll put him in the mix. Local kid, so I’m sure all of the Texans, fellow Texans, will be happy about that.”
Green was an All-SEC Freshman performer at right guard for the Aggies in 2019, then became the full-time starter at left guard in 2020. As Caserio noted, Green spent time at several positions along the O-line in 2021: two games at right tackle, one game at left tackle, two games at right guard, and seven games at left guard. He presently projects as the Texans’ starting left guard, and his presence should be a boon for second-year QB Davis Mills and new running backs Marlon Mack and Dameon Pierce.
The 6-4, 323-pounder was a finalist for the Lombardi Award in 2021, given to the nation’s top collegiate O-lineman. As one AFC scout told Lance Zierlein of NFL.com before the draft, “[m]ost of his bad reps were when he was playing tackle this year, when guys were hurt. His guard tape is first round for me.”
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/14/22
Today’s minor moves in the NFL:
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: CB Drew Hartlaub
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: OL Cole Banwart
- Waived: OL Ty Clary (failed physical)
New York Giants
- Signed: DL Ryder Anderson, DB Jordan Mosley