Chiefs Sign WR Darrius Shepherd, Cut OL Martinas Rankin
The Chiefs are swapping an offensive lineman for a wideout. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter) that the team has signed wide receiver Darrius Shepherd and released offensive lineman Martinas Rankin.
Shepherd, a 2019 undrafted free agent out of North Dakota State, spent the first two seasons of his career in Green Bay, where he appeared in 14 total games. The wideout finished his Packers career with six receptions for 47 yards and a pair of fumbles. The 25-year-old also contributed on special teams, returning 20 kickoffs for 374 yards.
The Chiefs certainly aren’t lacking for receivers; the team is currently rostering 15 players (including Shepherd) at the position. In other words, the latest acquisition’s best chance of seeing the field would probably be on special teams, although it’d be tough to knock off Mecole Hardman as the team’s top returner (not to mention Tyreek Hill waiting in the wings).
Rankin, a 2018 third-round pick by the Texans, was acquired by the Chiefs in the 2019 trade that sent Carlos Hyde to Houston. The lineman started five of his six games at left guard in 2019, but he was sidelined during Kansas City’s run to a championship. Rankin only saw time in one game in 2020, and he saw a limited number of special teams snaps during the 2020 postseason.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 6/17/21
Here are the latest mid-round rookie signings from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Darren Hall (SDSU, fourth round)
- Signed: C Drew Dalman (Stanford, fourth round)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (USC, fourth round)
- Signed: LB Derrick Barnes (Purdue, fourth round)
Bears Sign DT Mike Pennel
Mike Pennel has found his next gig. The veteran defensive tackle is signing a one-year deal with the Bears, according to his agent, Andy Simms (via Twitter).
[RELATED: NT Goldman No-Shows Bears Mandatory Minicamp]
The 2014 undrafted free agent has managed to put together a solid seven-year career, starting games for the Packers, Jets, and Chiefs. He spent the past two seasons in Kansas City, including a 2019 campaign where he started a pair of playoff games en route to a Super Bowl championship. After serving a two-game ban to start the 2020 season, Pennel saw time in 14 games (one starts) with the Chiefs last year, collecting 29 tackles and one QB hit. He also saw time in each of Kansas City’s three playoff contests, collecting a single tackle.
In total, Pennel has seen time in 91 career games (16 starts), collecting 155 tackles, two sacks, and 13 QB hits. The veteran has also appeared in 10 playoff games, collecting 11 tackles.
We heard earlier this week that the 30-year-old was trying out for the Bears. The team could be looking for some extra reinforcement along the defensive line after nose tackle Eddie Goldman decided to no-show mandatory minicamp.
Patriots Cut K Roberto Aguayo
Roberto Aguayo will have to find his next NFL gig elsewhere. The Patriots waived the kicker today, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss (via Twitter). The team also waived long snapper Wes Farnsworth and signed offensive lineman R.J. Prince.
Following a standout career at Florida State, Aguayo was selected with the 59th-overall pick by the Buccaneers back in 2016, making him the first kicker since 2005 (Mike Nugent, Jets) to be selected in the second round. Aguayo struggled throughout his rookie campaign, connecting on only 71-percent of his field goal attempts. He was replaced the following offseason, and he hasn’t seen the field for an NFL game since.
Following stints with the Bears, Panthers, and Chargers, Aguayo joined the Patriots last Decemnow ber. After spending time on their practice squad, he inked a reserve/futures deal. Barring another signing, New England’s kicking competition will come down to veteran Nick Folk and undrafted free agent Quinn Nordin.
Farnsworth joined the Patriots back in May and participated in their minicamp. The former undrafted free agent was competing with Joe Cardona for the starting gig, but it sounds like the veteran long snapper has won the job.
Prince, a 2018 undrafted free agent out of North Carolina, has spent time with the Steelers and Ravens. He hasn’t seen time in an NFL game.
Raiders Sign LB Darron Lee
A former first-round pick is heading to Las Vegas. The Raiders announced that they’ve signed linebacker Darron Lee. The team also signed cornerback De’Vante Bausby and waived cornerback T.J. Morrison.
Lee, the No. 20 pick of the 2016 draft, disappointed during his three seasons with the Jets, collecting a total of 273 tackles and four sacks in 58 games (38 starts). He won a Super Bowl ring after getting traded to the Chiefs in 2019, but he was limited to mostly a backup role during his lone season in Kansas City. He caught on with the Bills in 2020, seeing time in only a pair of games.
Lee will have an uphill battle to find snaps, as the Raiders have put in work over the past few years to revamp their linebackers depth chart. Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski will once again lead the depth chart, but Lee would still have to overcome the likes of Nicholas Morrow, Tanner Muse, and Divine Deablo for playing time.
Bausby has bounced around the league a bit since going undrafted in 2015. The 28-year-old actually ended up having a career season in 2020, collecting 21 tackles and five passes defended in 11 games with the Broncos (and briefly the Cardinals).
Morrison went undrafted out of Stony Brook in this past year’s draft. He signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent back in May.
Lions Sign Levi Onwuzurike
The Lions have another draft pick in the fold. On Thursday, they formally signed second-round defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike.
Onwuzurike, a Washington product, opted out of the 2020 season and spent the year preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 288-pound lineman earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2019, and finished his Huskies career with 95 tackles and seven sacks.
The 6’3″, 293-pound lineman played defensive tackle with the Huskies. However, he’ll be slotted in as a defensive end that moves inside on clear passing downs, according to defensive line coach Todd Wash. As the No. 41 overall pick, Onwuzurike will earn $8.14MM across four years, including a signing bonus of $3.2MM.
With Onwuzurike signed, the Lions have just a couple of draft picks to go. Here’s the full rundown of their 2021 draft class:
Round 1: No. 7 Penei Sewell, OT (Oregon) (signed)
Round 2: No. 41 Levi Onwuzurike, DT (Washington) (signed)
Round 3: No. 72 Alim McNeill, DT (North Carolina State) (signed)
Round 3: No. 101 (from Rams) Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB (Syracuse)
Round 4: No. 112 Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR (USC)
Round 4: No. 113 (from Panthers through Browns) Derrick Barnes, LB (Purdue)
Round 7: No. 257 Jermar Jefferson, RB (Oregon State) (signed)
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/17/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DL George Obinna, DL John Atkins
- Released: LB Alani Putuau, WR Greg Dortch, LB Jeff Holland, DL Eli Ankou
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL T.J. Wheatley Jr.
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Amara Darboh, WR De’Mornay Pierson-El
- Waived: P Max Duffy
- Waived/injured: OLB Natrez Patrick
Falcons Sign Shareef Miller
The Falcons have signed edge rusher Shareef Miller, according to agent David Canter (Twitter link). Originally a fourth-round Eagles pick, Miller has played in one regular-season game to date.
The Birds waived Miller last summer, leading him to the Panthers. He was later released, freeing him up to return to the Eagles as a practice squad player. The Cardinals inked him to a futures deal in January, but he became a free agent last week when he was dropped to make room for defensive tackle Xavier Williams.
Now, Miller will compete for a spot behind projected starters Dante Fowler and Jacob Tuioti-Mariner. Jonathan Bullard, Barkevious Mingo, and fifth-round pick Ta’Quon Graham are also in the mix at defensive end.
Panthers, Terrace Marshall Agree To Deal
The Panthers have agreed to terms with second-round pick Terrace Marshall. The wide receiver will play on a four-year deal worth $5.7MM, per the terms of his slot at No. 59.
After trading down twice in Round 2, the Panthers planned to select BYU tackle Brady Christensen and add LSU wideout Terrace Marshall Jr. with a subsequent trade-up shortly after. However, they changed course after hearing the Saints’ footsteps. Unwilling to let him get away, the Panthers leapfrogged their rivals and reunited Marshall with offensive coordinator Joe Brady. It all worked out for the Panthers, who still managed to take Christensen in the third round.
Marshall played a key role for LSU’s national championship team alongside Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase. He totaled 23 touchdown grabs between 2019 and 2020, a promising sign of what’s to come.
“Not too many people are 6-2, 200-plus and run a 4.3, and are able to make plays on the ball like Terrace does,” Brady said earlier this year. “When the ball’s in the air, Terrace always finds a way to come down with it, and I think he showcased that every time he was on the football field. Not a lot of games but a lot of production.”
Now, he’ll play alongside Panthers vets D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson, helping to replace ex-WR2 Emmanuel Sanders. Christensen and third-round tight end Tommy Tremble now stand as the Panthers’ last stragglers.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/16/21
The Seahawks made today’s only minor moves:
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Dominick Wood-Anderson
- Waived: RB B.J. Emmons