NFL Draft Pick Signings: 7/23/21
We’ll keep track of today’s late-round signings here:
Detroit Lions
- CB Ifeatu Melifonwu (third round; Syracuse)
Los Angeles Chargers
- WR Josh Palmer (third round; Tennessee)
San Francisco 49ers
- CB Ambry Thomas (third round; Michigan)
Raiders Sign Third-Rounders Malcolm Koonce, Divine Deablo To Wrap Draft Class
The Raiders are ready to roll for training camp; all their rookies are now under contract. Las Vegas came to terms on the customary four-year rookie deals for third-round picks Divine Deablo and Malcolm Koonce on Friday.
Las Vegas took Koonce, a defensive end out of Buffalo, at No. 79 before drafting Deablo (Virginia Tech) a pick later. The team is set to open its training camp July 27, joining 28 other squads in that regard. Deablo, Koonce and second-round safety Trevon Moehrig represent the Raiders’ Day 2 draft contingent. Moehrig signed his rookie deal last month.
Primarily a safety at Virginia Tech, Deablo is on track to begin his NFL career as a linebacker. Deablo began his Hokies career as a wide receiver, ranking as a top-25 wideout recruit nationally in 2016, but moved to the defensive side in 2017. Deablo was a key Virginia Tech defender from 2018-20. Last season, he intercepted four passes; one of those picks came against top 2021 pick Trevor Lawrence. Deablo will join an experienced Raiders linebacking corps, being positioned to potentially see extensive time following the 2021 season.
Koonce combined to register 13 sacks over the past two seasons. He tallied 11 tackles for loss in 2019, when he added three forced fumbles. Koonce finished as a first-team All-MAC defender during the conference’s six-game season. In that truncated campaign, Koonce still posted five sacks. He will join a Raiders edge-rushing corps that now houses Yannick Ngakoue, who signed to team with Clelin Ferrell and former fourth-round find Maxx Crosby. Crosby was also a MAC pass-rushing standout.
Going into camp, here is how the Raiders’ 2021 draft class breaks down:
Round 1: No. 17 Alex Leatherwood, OL (Alabama) (signed)
Round 2: No. 43 (from 49ers) Tre’von Moehrig, S (TCU) (signed)
Round 3: No. 79 (from Cardinals) Malcolm Koonce, DE (Buffalo) (signed)
Round 3: No. 80 Divine Deablo, S (Virginia Tech) (signed)
Round 4: No. 143 (from Vikings via Jets) Tyree Gillespie, S (Missouri) (signed)
Round 5: No. 167 (from Seahawks) Nate Hobbs, CB (Illinois) (signed)
Round 7: No. 230 (from Jets via 49ers) Jimmy Morrissey, C (Pittsburgh) (signed)
Dolphins Sign Second-Round S Jevon Holland
The first of the Dolphins’ two second-round picks is now under contract. The Dolphins and safety Jevon Holland agreed to terms on the customary four-year rookie deal Friday.
Miami selected Holland 36th overall out of Oregon, doing so just after Denver traded up to No. 35 to take running back Javonte Williams. The Dolphins did extensive work on Williams, but after the Broncos’ move, the team’s focus shifted. Holland will be ticketed to play a key role in Miami’s secondary as a rookie.
The Dolphins cut longtime starter Bobby McCain this offseason, clearing a path for Holland to move into the starting lineup as a rookie. Miami has converted cornerback Eric Rowe in position as a safety starter. Rowe has been a full-time safety first-stringer in each of Brian Flores‘ two seasons.
Holland opted out last year, joining Oregon first-round talent Penei Sewell in doing so, but the 6-foot, 207-pound defender packed plenty into his two-year Ducks sample. Holland intercepted nine passes in his two years with the Ducks. He added 4.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore in 2019.
Both of Miami’s other Day 2 picks — second-round tackle Liam Eichenberg and third-round tight end Hunter Long — remain unsigned. The Dolphins and first-rounders Jaelan Phillips and Jaylen Waddle have agreed to terms.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/23/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Lorenzo Burns
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Luq Barcoo, CB C.J. Henderson, QB Jake Luton
- Placed on active/PUP list: LB Leon Jacobs
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Cre’Von LeBlanc
- Waived: DE Nick Coe, LS Rex Sunahara
New England Patriots
- Signed: TE David Wells
New York Jets
- Placed on NFI list: DE Vinny Curry, DT Folorunso Fatukasi, S Marcus Maye
- Placed on active/PUP list: S Ashtyn Davis, DL Jonathan Marshall, DL Kyle Phillips, DT Quinnen Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Cameron Scarlett
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Jordan Whitehead
Cowboys Expected To Sign S Malik Hooker
Malik Hooker remains in free agency, but the former first-round pick has been connected to multiple teams this offseason. He is paying the Cowboys another visit Friday, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). This second meeting is expected to produce a deal, so long as Hooker proves healthy, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News tweets.
The Cowboys hosted Hooker, Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee in March. Both Neal and Kazee, each of whom former Dan Quinn charges with the Falcons, signed with the Cowboys. Dallas looks set to have all three of those March visitors in uniform soon.
A Ohio State product, Hooker is coming off a season in which he played just two games. He suffered an Achilles tear last September. That affected his market, and Hooker should be expected to use the 2021 season as a springboard to a more lucrative contract down the road.
Hooker also visited the Steelers and Dolphins this year, with his most recent meeting — in Pittsburgh — coming in early June. Shortly after that meeting, Hooker expressed interest in waiting on more teams to enter the equation. Dallas’ re-emergence appears to have satisfied him, and Hooker — if healthy — will have a good chance at earning a starting job.
Dallas has been linked to big-name safeties for years but has resisted. The team signed Ha Ha Clinton-Dix last year but cut the ex-Packers first-rounder before the season. This year, Quinn has Neal set to play both safety and linebacker; Kazee joins Hooker in coming off a major injury. The Cowboys lost Xavier Woods in free agency but have been aggressive in free agency, adding Jayron Kearse in addition to the March visitors.
Hooker, 25, poses as a low-cost flier who has extensive starter experience. Indianapolis deployed the former No. 15 overall pick as a first-stringer in 35 games. However, Hooker has suffered ACL, MCL and Achilles tears as a pro. This season will be pivotal to determining his path toward future guaranteed dollars.
Dolphins To Sign Shaquem Griffin
Well, that was fast. Shortly after meeting with the Dolphins on Monday morning, linebacker Shaquem Griffin agreed to terms on a one-year deal. Now, the former Seahawks ‘backer will get ready for training camp in South Beach and push to make the final cut. (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). 
The Seahawks mostly deployed Griffin on special teams with occasional work as a traditional linebacker. Earlier this year, Griffin told teams that he was training to play as an edge rusher. The Dolphins’ plans for him aren’t immediately clear. However, if he’s able to offer pass rushing help in addition to his already solid special teams play, he’ll make an intriguing addition to Brian Flores‘ depth chart.
For his career, Griffin has 25 tackles, one sack, and one pass defensed across 46 games. He’ll look to build on that with the Dolphins, where he’ll be driving distance from his twin brother Shaquill Griffin.
Panthers Sign TE Tommy Tremble, Wrap Up Draft Class
The Panthers have officially signed their entire draft class. The team announced the signing of third-round tight end Tommy Tremble this evening.
After not appearing in a game during his freshman season, Tremble saw time in 19 games for Notre Dame between 2019 and 2020. While he was mostly known for his blocking ability in college, he showed some flashes on offense, hauling in 35 receptions for 401 yards and four touchdowns. That performance led to him being selected in the third round (pick No. 83) of this year’s draft.
Tremble will be joining a depth chart that includes Ian Thomas, Dan Arnold, Colin Thompson, Giovanni Ricci, and Stephen Sullivan. As Darin Gantt of the team website writes, the rookie’s versatility should lead to playing time. Besides tight end, Tremble also has experience playing fullback, H-back, and special teams.
The Panthers have now officially inked each of their 11 rookies, tied for the largest draft class in team history. That grouping includes:
Round 1: No. 8 Jaycee Horn, CB (South Carolina)
Round 2: No. 59 (from Browns) Terrace Marshall Jr., WR (LSU)
Round 3: No. 70 (from Eagles) Brady Christensen, OT (BYU)
Round 3: No. 83 (from Bears) Tommy Tremble, TE (Notre Dame)
Round 4: No. 113 Chuba Hubbard, RB (Oklahoma State) (signed)
Round 5: No. 158 Daviyon Nixon, DT (Iowa) (signed)
Round 5: No. 166 (from Titans) Keith Taylor, CB (Washington) (signed)
Round 6: No. 204 (from Bears) Shi Smith, WR (South Carolina) (signed)
Round 6: No. 222 Thomas Fletcher, LS (Alabama) (signed)
Round 7: No. 232 (from Titans) Phil Hoskins, DT (Kentucky) (signed)
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 7/22/21
We’ll keep track of today’s later round signings here:
Denver Broncos
- LB Baron Browning (third-round, Ohio State)
Los Angeles Rams
- LB Ernest Jones (third-round, South Carolina)
Tennessee Titans
- CB Elijah Molden (third-round, Washington)
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/22/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on NFI list: OT Ja’Wuan James
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed off waivers (from Cardinals): C Lamont Gaillard
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on Reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Jake Luton
New York Giants
- Placed on IR: RB Taquan Mizzell
- Placed on Reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Kadarius Toney
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: S Curtis Riley
Jets Sign Second-Round WR Elijah Moore
The Jets are one step closer to officially signing their entire draft class. The team announced this evening that they’ve signed second-round receiver Elijah Moore.
Per ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter, the four-year deal is fully guaranteed through the first three seasons of the pact. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds (via Twitter) that the deal is worth a total of $8.94MM, and ESPN’s Rich Cimini tweets that the deal includes a $3.86MM signing bonus.
Moore had a standout career at Ole Miss, and he had his best collegiate season during the 2020 campaign. The receiver finished with 1,257 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns, earning him first-team All-SEC honors and a consensus All-American nod. Thanks to that performance, the Jets made Moore the second pick of the second round (No. 34 overall).
Despite the presence of free agent addition Corey Davis, 2020 second rounder Denzel Mims, and 2020 receiving leader Jamison Crowder, Moore should have an opportunity to contribute immediately. He’ll initially slot in as the fourth wideout behind that aforementioned trio, although the likes of Keelan Cole or Vyncint Smith could push for snaps with strong preseasons.
With this signing, the Jets only have one unsigned draft pick: second-overall pick Zach Wilson.