Minor NFL Transactions: 7/21/21
Today’s minor NFL transactions:
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on NFI list: TE Jacob Breeland, G Ben Cleveland
New England Patriots
- Placed on NFI list: S Joshuah Bledsoe, LB Cameron McGrone, RB Rhamondre Stevenson
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Jordyn Peters, RB Mike Weber
San Francisco 49ers
- Claimed off waivers (from Rams): WR Nsimba Webster
49ers Sign Third-Round RB Trey Sermon
The 49ers have signed a key member of their draft class. The team announced today that they’ve signed third-round running back Trey Sermon to his rookie contract. Per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area (on Twitter), the four-year deal is worth $4.87MM.
Sermon spent his first three years of college at Oklahoma, including a breakout 2018 campaign where he finished with 1,128 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns. He had a fraction of the carries in 2019, leading to his transfer to Ohio State as a graduate student. During his lone season with the Buckeyes in 2020, Sermon ran for 870 yards and four scores on 116 carries.
The running back improved his draft stock with a standout postseason performance. He had an incredible game against Northwestern during the Big Ten Championship, setting a single-game school record with 331 rushing yards. He added another 254 yards from scrimmage in the Sugar Bowl, but he was knocked out of the National Championship after getting injured on the first play.
The 49ers ended up selecting the 22-year-old with the No. 88 pick in this year’s draft. An injury to Jeff Wilson could open some temporary playing time for the rookie, although he’ll likely find himself behind at least veterans Wayne Gallman and Raheem Mostert to start the season.
With the signing, the 49ers only have two unsigned draft picks: quarterback Trey Lance (1.3) and cornerback Ambry Thomas (3.102).
Cardinals Waive OL Lamont Gaillard
Lamont Gaillard‘s stint in Arizona has come to an end. The Cardinals waived the center today, according to veteran reporter Howard Balzer. The move will save the organization about $800K in 2021 and $900K in 2022.
The 2019 sixth-round pick out of Georgia didn’t appear in a single game during his rookie season, but he was able to secure a role on the 2020 squad. Gaillard ultimately saw time in 13 games with two starts, appearing in 19-percent of his team’s offensive snaps. The 25-year-old also appeared in 16-percent of his team’s special teams snaps.
The Cardinals have completely revamped their center position this offseason. The team acquired Rodney Hudson in a trade with the Raiders, and that ultimately led to the trade of former starter Mason Cole, who was dealt to the Vikings. Gaillard would have been competing for the same rotational/backup spot in 2021, but seventh-round rookie Michal Menet will now have the inside track at the gig.
As Balzer notes, the team could still be in the market for another center. The Cardinals are currently rostering only 14 offensive lineman, a modest number for training camp.
Steelers LB Vince Williams Announces Retirement
Vince Williams is calling it a career. The Steelers linebacker announced his retirement today, per an announcement from the organization.
“Vince Williams notified us today that he will retire from the game of football,” said Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert. “We respect his decision and want to thank him for his time with us as he consistently showed great character and leadership in addition to his contributions on the field. We wish Vince and his family all the best.”
The 2013 sixth-round pick spent his entire career in Pittsburgh, appearing in 121 games. Williams will retire having collected 479 tackles, 50 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, and 45 QB hits, a mark that ranks 11th in franchise history. The linebacker also saw time in eight playoff games for the Steelers, collecting 26 tackles.
The 31-year-old continued to produce in 2020, compiling 70 tackles, three sacks, and a career-high 14 tackles for loss in 14 starts. The organization cut the veteran early in the offseason, saving the team $4MM against the cap. Williams later re-signed with the team, inking a one-year deal worth just over $1MM.
Williams was likely going to find himself behind Devin Bush and Robert Spillane at middle linebacker (per Mark Kaboly of The Athletic on Twitter), but he was still going to see plenty of playing time. With the veteran out of the picture, the team could now turn to the likes of Buddy Johnson or Ulysees Gilbert.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 7/21/21
We’ll keep track of today’s later round signings here:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: OL Quinn Meinerz (third round, Whitewater)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OL Robert Hainsey (third round, Notre Dame)
Ravens Sign Brandon Stephens, Wrap Draft Class
That’s a wrap. On Wednesday, the Ravens inked third-round defensive back Brandon Stephens to his rookie deal. With Stephens taken care of, the Ravens now have their entire 2021 draft class in the fold.
Stephens began his collegiate career as a running back at UCLA. Then, he transferred to SMU, switched to the secondary, and put himself on the NFL’s radar. Last year, Stephens notched ten passes defensed to lead the American Athletic Conference and also came away with one interception. Between ’19 and ’20, he batted down 22 passes in total, showing the length and coverage skills needed to make it at the next level.
Stephens spent most of his time on campus as a cornerback, but the Ravens believe that he can play both corner and safety. As the No. 104 pick, he’s slotted for a four-year, $4.8MM deal. That sum includes an $840K signing bonus with escalating salaries from now through 2024.
With less than a week to go before rookies report for duty, here’s the full recap of the Ravens’ 2021 class:
- Round 1: No. 27 Rashod Bateman, WR (Minnesota) (signed)
- Round 1: No. 31 (from Chiefs) Jayson Oweh, DE (Penn State)
- Round 3: No. 94 (from Chiefs) Ben Cleveland, G (Georgia)
- Round 3: No. 104 Brandon Stephens, CB (SMU)
- Round 4: No. 131 Tylan Wallace, WR (Oklahoma State) (signed)
- Round 5: No. 160 (from Cardinals) Shaun Wade, CB (Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 5: No. 171 Daelin Hayes, LB (Notre Dame) (signed)
- Round 5: No. 184 Ben Mason, FB (Michigan) (signed)
Patriots Sign Christian Barmore
The Patriots have inked defensive tackle Christian Barmore, per a club announcement. As the No. 38 overall pick, Barmore will earn $8.5MM on his four-year contract. 
Barmore skipped two years of Alabama eligibility to go pro, joining fellow underclassmen Jaylen Waddle, Patrick Surtain II, and Mac Jones in the 2021 NFL Draft pool. After taking Jones in Round 1, the Pats shipped pick Nos. 46, 122 and 139 to the Bengals for No. 38, where they grabbed Barmore.
Barmore, the defensive MVP of the National Championship Game, notched 37 tackles, eight sacks, and three forced fumbles last year. He finished 2020 as Pro Football Focus’ top-ranked interior lineman in college and seemed to be on track for the first round. For one reason or another, he slipped, leading him to Bill Belichick & Co. in the second round.
With Barmore in the fold, the Patriots now have their entire 2021 draft class signed. Here’s the full breakdown:
- Round 1: No. 15 Mac Jones, QB (Alabama)
- Round 2: No. 38 (from Bengals) Christian Barmore, DT (Alabama)
- Round 3: No. 96 Ronnie Perkins, DE (Oklahoma)
- Round 4: No. 120 (from Cardinals through Texans) Rhamondre Stevenson, RB (Oklahoma)
- Round 5: No. 177 Cameron McGrone, LB (Michigan)
- Round 6: No. 188 (from Texans) Joshuah Bledsoe, S (Missouri)
- Round 6. No. 197 William Sherman, OT (Colorado)
- Round 7: No. 242 Tre Nixon, WR (Central Florida)
49ers, Fred Warner Agree To Record-Breaking Extension
The 49ers have agreed to a five-year, $95MM extension with All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). The new deal will lock him up through 2026 and make him the highest-paid inside linebacker in NFL history. 
Warner, a former third-round pick from BYU, was previously set to hit the open market next spring. The Niners refused to let him get away, giving him a whopping new deal to top Bobby Wagner as the league’s highest-paid ILB. At least, that’s the mantle he has right now — Colts star Darius Leonard may top him in the coming weeks.
“I want to get it done personally,” said head coach Kyle Shanahan in May when asked about a new deal for Warner. “I kind of feel like I’d say the same about him as I did about [George] Kittle when we were talking about it [last year]. I just see that kind of as a matter of time.
“I know he’s not going into his free agent year or anything like that, so that’s why it’s not always on my mind. But Fred’s a guy that I plan on being here forever and who has earned that. I’d be surprised if that doesn’t start sooner than later.”
Wagner has a perfect attendance record as a pro, playing 95% of the team’s snaps over the last three years. He earned first-team All-Pro acclaim in 2020, notching 125 tackles and grading as Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 off-ball linebacker (by far).
All along, Warner has said that he wants to be a “Niner for life.” Now, at minimum, he has a deal to cover much of his NFL prime.
Cowboys Sign Chauncey Golston, Wrap Draft Class
The Cowboys have agreed to terms with third-round defensive end Chauncey Golston (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). With Golston signed, the Cowboys now have all eleven picks in the fold.
Golston was grabbed with the 84th overall pick, shortly after the Cowboys selected UCLA defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. Together, the two rookies will work to bolster the defensive line depth. Golston will support starters DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory, provided that he can outrank options like Tarell Basham, Dorance Armstrong, and Bradlee Anae. He could also see time on the interior, like he did at Iowa.
“At the end of the day, it’s just football,” Golston said earlier this year. “As long as you’re preparing the right way and you’re not — if I was to just train on the left side, then playing on the right side would be hard. But I’m trying to be as versatile as possible. So, I train on both sides.”
Now that Golston and cornerback Nahshon Wright have agreed to terms, the Cowboys have all of their rookie paperwork squared away. Here’s the full rundown of their 2021 draft class:
- Round 1: No. 12 (from 49ers through Dolphins through Eagles) Micah Parsons, LB (Penn State)
- Round 2: No. 44 Kelvin Joseph, CB (Kentucky)
- Round 3: No. 75 Osa Odighizuwa, DT (UCLA)
- Round 3: No. 84 (from Colts through Eagles) Chauncey Golston, DE (Iowa)
- Round 3: No. 99 Nahshon Wright, CB (Oregon State)
- Round 4: No. 115 Jabril Cox, LB (North Dakota State, LSU)
- Round 4: No. 138 Josh Ball, OT (Marshall)
- Round 5: No. 179 Simi Fehoko, WR (Stanford)
- Round 6: No. 192 (from Lions) Quinton Bohanna, DT (Kentucky)
- Round 6: No. 227 Israel Mukuamu, CB (South Carolina)
- Round 7: No. 238 Matt Farniok, G (Nebraska)
Cowboys Sign Nahshon Wright
The Cowboys have officially signed third-round cornerback Nahshon Wright, per a club announcement. The Oregon State product will earn $4.8MM over the course of his four-year deal, in accordance with his slot.
Wright, taken No. 99 overall, notched 64 tackles, five interceptions, one sack, and one forced fumble over the course of his collegiate career. He started out at Laney College, a community college in Oakland, CA, before transferring to Oregon State in 2019. Between his late arrival to the Beavers and the pandemic, he’s seen just one year of Division-I action.
Many analysts didn’t have Wright as a third-round prospect, but Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn saw him as a perfect fit for his scheme. Standing at 6’4″, he definitely has the length to cover taller receivers at the pro level. Now, he’ll try to carve out a role behind Jourdan Lewis, Trevon Diggs, and second-round pick Kelvin Joseph.
With Wright in the fold, defensive end Chauncey Golston stands as the last straggler. However, that deal should be just around the corner, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).