Chiefs Re-Sign C Austin Reiter
Formerly the Chiefs’ starting center, Austin Reiter has now bounced on and off the team’s roster this offseason. After re-signing with Kansas City in March, Reiter was released shortly post-draft. The team has again brought back the former starter.
Reiter, wide receiver Gary Jennings and offensive lineman Chris Glaser signed with the Chiefs on Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets. Glaser attended the team’s rookie minicamp last week. Reiter could have a chance to vie for a depth job in Kansas City, which now has 2021 second-rounder Creed Humphrey entrenched at the center position.
During both of the Chiefs’ recent Super Bowl seasons, Reiter served in that role. The ex-Washington seventh-round pick started 28 games from 2019-20 and was a full-timer in each of the Chiefs’ six playoff games during those years. The team did not re-sign Reiter after its Super Bowl LV blocking debacle, reshaping its offensive line behind the likes of Reiter, Joe Thuney and Orlando Brown Jr. Sixth-round pick Trey Smith later earned the team’s starting right guard gig, marking a near-complete overhaul.
Reiter, 30, spent last season with the Dolphins and Saints. He started five games with Miami. The Chiefs lost 2021 backup center Austin Blythe to the Seahawks earlier this offseason, making the perennial AFC West champions a bit thinner on their interior O-line.
Texans To Sign Jerry Hughes
One of the top remaining edge rushers is off the market. Jerry Hughes is signing with the Texans, as first reported by Jordan Schultz and confirmed (on Twitter) by Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson. 
Hughes, 33, began his career in Indianapolis in 2010. He played a reserve role for the first two seasons of his career, but took on a much larger workload the following year. He started six games, totalling 41 tackles and four sacks. During the subsequent offseason, though, he was traded to the Bills.
It was in Buffalo that he enjoyed the bulk of his success. Starting 127 of 144 games with the Bills, Hughes put up back-to-back seasons with 10 sacks in 2013 and 2014. Since then, he has remained a consistent presence on the edge of the Bills’ defense. His level of play earned him a two-year extension in 2019, though the 2021 campaign saw him put up the lowest totals of his tenure in western New York (18 tackles, two sacks).
This offseason, the Bills have made changes in the edge room, including, most notably, the signing of Von Miller. In large part because of that deal, Hughes and Mario Addison were forced to find new homes. The latter has already signed in Houston, making him one of a few notable faces for Hughes. Another is defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire, who previously worked on the Bills’ staff.
As a Sugar Land native and TCU alum, this deal also marks a homecoming for Hughes. Even if he isn’t able to replicate his best years, he should have a notable role to play on what could be a much-improved Texans defense in 2022.
Ravens To Sign Mike Davis
Mike Davis has found his next NFL home. The veteran running back is signing with the Ravens, as first reported by Jordan Schultz and confirmed by Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson (Twitter link). 
[RELATED: Ravens Eyeing Landry]
The 29-year-old was released last week by the Falcons. There had been optimism surrounding his arrival with his hometown team, but he ended up producing similar numbers to his career averages. He appeared in all 17 games, but only started eight, totalling 762 scrimmage yards while scoring four touchdowns. The team leaned more heavily on Cordarrelle Patterson and has since added Damien Williams in free agency and Tyler Allgeier during the draft.
While 2021 didn’t go according to plan for Davis, he is one year removed from the best season of his career, which came with the Panthers. Filling in for Christian McCaffrey, he became the team’s lead back and started 12 of 15 games. He rushed for 642 yards and six touchdowns, but was a key piece to the team’s passing game as well. He totalled 373 yards and a pair of scores through the air, earning him the two-year deal from the Falcons which was terminated this offseason.
In Baltimore, Davis will join a crowded running backs room. The team is set to have each of its top three options from last season – J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill – return after they all missed the entire 2021 campaign due to injuries. They also drafted Tyler Badie in the sixth round of the draft, so while Davis is the most experienced player in the group, he is likely going to compete for no more than a depth role.
Colts To Sign Dennis Kelly
Not long after visiting the Colts, Dennis Kelly has decided to join the team. Indianapolis has agreed to terms with the veteran tackle (Twitter link via Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star). 
Kelly, 32, began his career with the Eagles, starting 15 of 30 games played in Philadelphia. His longest NFL stint came with the Titans, though, after they traded for him in 2016. As the team’s swing tackle throughout his first year in Nashville, he played just 145 snaps, but showed enough during that time to sign a three-year extension.
Kelly’s playing time increased the following year, but it wasn’t until 2020 that he became a full-time starter. Stepping into the right tackle spot vacated by Jack Conklin that year, he played more than 1,000 snaps for the first time in his career, committing two penalties and not allowing any sacks. During the subsequent offseason, however, he was released with one more year left on his most recent extension.
That led him to Green Bay, where he started four of 10 games as the Packers dealt with injuries at both tackle spots. After the season ended, the Purdue product visited the Colts, as they continued the re-making of their tackle depth. With Kelly in place, they will have experienced depth at a minimum, if not another option to compete for the starting left tackle spot alongside Matt Pryor and third-round rookie Bernhard Raimann. With those three, along with right tackle Braden Smith, the team hopes to have some much-needed depth and stability at both ends of the offensive line.
Bears Sign 16 UDFAs
May 9, 9:22pm: The Bears aren’t finished adding. Following rookie minicamp this past weekend, the organization added another six UDFAs:
- LB Christian Albright
- S Jon Alexander
- LS Antonio Ortiz
- DE Carson Taylor
- S AJ Thomas (story)
- RB De’Montre Tuggle
May 6, 10:00am: The Bears announced on Friday that they have signed the following undrafted free agents:
- LB Jaylan Alexander, Purdue
- TE Chase Allen, Iowa State
- LB C. J. Avery, Louisville
- S Amari Carter, Miami
- OT Jean Delance, Florida
- DT Micah Dew-Treadway, Minnesota
- CB Allie Green IV, Missouri
- WR Cyrus Holder, Duquesne
- CB Jaylon Jones, Mississippi
- WR Landon Lenoir, Southern Illinois
- WR Henry Litwin, Slippery Rock
- LB Jack Sanborn, Wisconsin
- WR Kevin Shaa, Liberty
- WR Savon Scarver, Utah State (since been cut)
- RB Master Teague, Ohio State
- TE Jake Tonges, California
One of the intriguing additions on offense is Scarver. He was named an All-American and received the Jet Award in 2018 for his production as a returner. Over the course of his career, he averaged over 27 yards per runback on kickoffs, tying the all-time NCAA record for return touchdowns with seven. His offensive production was lacking compared to that of third-rounder Velus Jones, but he should be able to compete for a special teams role.
Teague, meanwhile, will be a familiar face for quarterback Justin Fields, as the two played together at Ohio State in 2019 and 2020. It was in the former season that Teague set a career-high in scrimmage yards, with 849. The following campaign, he led the Buckeyes in rushing touchdowns with eight. He will compete with sixth-rounder Trestan Ebner for a depth role at the position.
Jets Sign 5 Undrafted Free Agents
May 9, 9:20pm: The Jets added another UDFA following their rookie tryouts this weekend, signing wide receiver Calvin Jackson Jr. out of Washington State.
May 6, 4:30pm: The Jets announced a thin UDFA class Friday. Here are the initial undrafted talents Joe Douglas‘ team is bringing in:
- Keshunn Abram, WR (Kent State)
- Tony Adams, S (Illinois)
- Irvin Charles, WR (Indiana, Pa.)
- Zonovan Knight, RB (North Carolina State)
- DQ Thomas, LB (Middle Tennessee State)
Thomas will collect $130K guaranteed, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). Playing five seasons with the mid-major program, Thomas showed versatility by delivering quality production as a tackler and a pass rusher. The 216-pound hybrid player put together two 70-plus-tackle/five-plus-sack seasons (2018 and 2021) and finished his college career with 53 tackles for loss. Although undersized, Thomas will head to the Jets with one of the more interesting athletic profiles of this year’s UDFA crop.
The Jets gave Adams a $110K guarantee, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets. Adams was the first Illinois true freshman to start a season opener since Vontae Davis in 2006. The Lovie Smith-led staff converted him from cornerback to safety. Charles’ college career dates back to 2015, when he went to Penn State as a four-star recruit. At Division II Indiana (Pa.) last season, Charles caught 39 passes for 792 yards and 12 touchdowns. Knight is the only player in Wolfpack history to return three kickoffs for touchdowns, finishing as a first-team All-ACC returner last season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/9/22
Today’s minor NFL transactions:
Chicago Bears
- Waived: LB Jaylan Alexander, S Amari Carter, WR Landon Lenoir, LB Ledarius Mack, RB Master Teague
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Kobe Jones
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: LB Justin March
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE Dylan Cantrell
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Derrick Kelly
- Waived: TE Brandon Dillon, WR D.J. Montgomery
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Greg Mabin
Dolphins To Sign RB Sony Michel
The Dolphins’ offseason backfield makeover will continue post-draft. They are signing former Patriots first-round pick Sony Michel, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). It’s a one-year deal, Josina Anderson of USA Today tweets. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets that the deal is worth $2.1MM.
Michel, who trekked to Miami and New Orleans for visits last week, will join Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert in a suddenly crowded Dolphins backfield. Miami signed both Edmonds and Mostert in March and will become the rare team to roster three running backs with at least four years’ experience. These additions should help a Miami ground attack that ranked 30th last season.
This will be Michel’s third NFL destination, and it comes on the heels of the ex-Georgia standout winning his second Super Bowl. Michel was far more effective during the Patriots’ 2018 playoff stretch (six rushing touchdowns, tied for second all time for a single postseason) than he was during the Rams’ four-game winter odyssey (26 carries, 80 yards), but he played a key role for Los Angeles during the regular season.
The Rams acquired Michel after Cam Akers sustained an Achilles tear, and the injury-prone ex-Patriot became the team’s go-to back after Darrell Henderson suffered a midseason injury. Michel posted two 120-plus-yard games in December, helping the Rams stay the course en route to their NFC West title. Michel faded into the background after Akers’ late-season return and received only two carries in Super Bowl LVI, but his 845 rushing yards led the Rams by a wide margin last season.
Although injuries plagued Michel for much of his Patriots run, he suited up for all 21 Rams games last season. The Dolphins’ previous two running back acquisitions have histories being injury-prone (Mostert) or as a change-of-pace back (Edmonds). Michel profiles as a between-the-tackles type who could provide some insurance. His arrival crowds a position group that also houses holdovers Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed. Provided everyone stays healthy through the preseason, Miami’s backfield will not have room for all five backs.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/9/22
Here are Monday’s draft pick signings:
Carolina Panthers
- OL Cade Mays (sixth round, Tennessee)
- CB Kalon Barnes (seventh round, Baylor)
Green Bay Packers
- T Rasheed Walker (seventh round, Penn State)
Patriots Sign 8 UDFAs
The Patriots became the latest team to announce their undrafted free agent class. Here are the eight UDFAs Bill Belichick‘s squad is bringing in:
- Devin Hafford, DB (Tarleton State)
- Jake Julien, P (Eastern Michigan)
- D’Eriq King, QB (Miami)
- DaMarcus Mitchell, DE (Purdue)
- LaBryan Ray, DE (Alabama)
- Kody Russey, C (Houston)
- Brenden Schooler, DB (Texas)
- Liam Shanahan, C (LSU)
New England focused on just a few positions with its class, but the team has a more complex role planned for King, who delivered a couple of standout seasons while at Houston and Miami. A dual-threat quarterback who stands just 5-foot-9, King accounted for a whopping 50 touchdowns in 2018 with the Cougars; he threw 36 TD passes (compared to just six INTs) and added 14 on the ground in a 674-yard rushing season.
King, who also caught 58 passes as a Houston underclassman before moving to quarterback full-time, chose the Patriots due to their interest in deploying him in myriad ways. Any Julian Edelman comparisons are obviously unfair, but the Pats’ successful QB-to-WR convert only caught one pass during his time college. King is coming off an injury-truncated season, playing in just three games.
“I talked to [Patriots player personnel director] Matt Groh, and he was excited. I’m thankful for the opportunity. He told me I’ll do a little bit of everything — receiver, quarterback, running back — whatever I can do to stick,” King said, via ProFootballNetwork.com’s Aaron Wilson, who adds the Bills, Cowboys and Seahawks showed interest as well.
Russey, who transferred to Houston last year after five seasons at Louisiana Tech, will receive a nice chunk of his rookie salary guaranteed. The Pats are guaranteeing the UDFA O-lineman $210K, Pro Football Focus’ Doug Kyed tweets. Russey was a rare 60-start college footballer; he lined up at center for the Cougars last season. The other center in this eight-man contingent, Shanahan became a two-year LSU starter after transferring from Harvard. These two snappers join longtime starter David Andrews and veteran backup James Ferentz in New England.
One of George Karlaftis‘ edge-rushing partners at Purdue, Mitchell will receive $75K guaranteed, Kyed adds (on Twitter). Mitchell recorded 4.5 sacks with the Boilermakers last season. Schooler yo-yoed between wide receiver and safety while at Oregon and Texas, while Julien was one of many in the 2022 UDFA class to use his COVID-19 extra year of eligibility. He punted in 54 games at Eastern Michigan and was a recent Canadian Football League draftee. Julien joins Jake Bailey as Patriot punters.