Minor NFL Transactions: 6/11/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: WR Reggie Davis
- Waived: WR Stephen Guidry
Saints’ Drew Brees Officially Placed On Retired List
The Saints officially placed quarterback Drew Brees on the reserve/retired list (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Field Yates). Of course, Brees already announced his retirement earlier this year. But, for cap reasons, the move was delayed until after June 1st. 
“After 20 years as a player in the NFL and 15 years as a Saint, it is time I retire from the game of football. Each day, I poured my heart and soul into being your Quarterback. ‘Til the very end, I exhausted myself to give everything I had to the Saints organization, my team, and the great city of New Orleans. We shared some amazing moments together, many of which are emblazoned in our hearts and minds and will forever be a part of us,” Brees said, back in March.
With the 13-time Pro Bowler out of the picture, the Saints are heading into ’21 with Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston as their top QBs. Hill offers athleticism, Winston has a cannon arm, but neither player has experience to compare to Brees. Unfortunately, Father Time ultimately caught up with the future Hall of Famer, so the Saints will have to adjust.
Brees, who has the most passing yards in league history, leaves the game with upwards of $250MM in career earnings — not including his off-the-field endorsements. That should be just enough to hold him in retirement.
49ers Waive Justin Skule
The 49ers have waived offensive lineman Justin Skule with an injury designation. This was the expected move after Skule suffered a season-ending ACL tear earlier this month.
Skule was competing to serve as a top backup behind Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey. With Williams out of practice, the former sixth-round pick was practicing with the first-string team, an indication that he was probably going to make the final cut and return for his third season. Instead, he’ll spend the year rehabbing before finding work (perhaps elsewhere) in 2022. To date, the 24-year-old has 31 games and 12 starts to his credit.
To replace Skule, the Niners have signed veteran offensive lineman Senio Kelemete. Kelemete offers similar experience, plus the ability to play multiple positions on the front line.
Eagles Re-Sign Richard Rodgers
The Eagles have re-signed tight end Richard Rodgers, per a club announcement. The longtime Packer will return for his fourth straight season with the Eagles on what is likely a one-year pact.
[RELATED: Ertz Won’t Report For Offseason Work]
Rodgers appeared in 13 games and started four times for the Birds last year and recorded 24 catches, 345 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He’s best known for the Hail Mary ball he caught from Aaron Rodgers in Detroit several years ago, but Rodgers actually nabbed eight TDs in that 2015 season. Between 2017 and 2018, he recorded just one catch for seven yards amidst injuries, but he saw a healthy number of targets with the Eagles in 2020.
For now, Rodgers projects to serve as the No. 3 tight end behind Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert. However, Ertz could very well get traded between now and Week 1, creating extra room for Rodgers, Jason Croom, Caleb Wilson, Hakeem Butler, and the rest of the roster hopefuls at TE.
Cowboys To Sign Osa Odighizuwa
The Cowboys have signed third-round defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News). With the UCLA product in the fold, the Cowboys now have just two unsigned draft picks to go.
Odighizuwa, the younger brother of former Giants defender Owa Odighizuwa, comes with four years of collegiate seasoning. And, for the last three years, he’s served as a starter for the Bruins. Even in a pandemic-shortened season, the 6’2″, 280-pound lineman managed to shine. In seven games, Odighizuwa notched six tackles for loss, four sacks, and 30 total stops. In total, he’s got 37 appearances to his credit with 120 tackles, 27.5 TFL, 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown.
The Cowboys’ defense could certainly use the help and new DC Dan Quinn is a big believer in Odighizuwa’s ability. Currently, he projects to be the first DT off of the bench, behind starters Carlos Watkins and Trysten Hill. Sixth-round pick Quinton Bohanna also figures to be in the mix.
Bohanna, Odighizuwa, and the majority of the Cowboys’ draftees are now taken care of. Two of their third-rounders — defensive lineman Chauncey Golston and cornerback Nahshon Wright — remain as the last stragglers.
Ravens Sign First-Round Pick Odafe Oweh
Odafe Oweh is officially in the books. On Friday, the Ravens signed the first-round defensive end to his rookie contract.
Per the terms of his No. 31 overall slot, Oweh will earn $12.6MM over the course of his four-year deal. That’s not too shabby for an athlete who did not play football until his junior year of high school. Turns out, he was a natural. The Penn State product measured out as one of the most athletic edge rushers in the lead-up to the draft and wound up as one of the final selections in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Oweh finished his collegiate career with All-Big Ten honors, 6.5 tackles for loss, and one a pass breakup at Penn State. He didn’t score a sack in his seven games, but he did notch five sacks in 2019.
Here’s the full rundown of the Ravens’ 2021 draft class:
Round 1: No. 27 Rashod Bateman, WR (Minnesota) (signed)
Round 1: No. 31 (from Chiefs) Odafe Oweh, DE (Penn State) (signed)
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)
49ers To Sign Senio Kelemete
The 49ers have agreed to sign offensive lineman Senio Kelemete (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). Kelemete will provide the Niners with some much needed depth in the wake of Justin Skule‘s season-ending ACL tear. 
[RELATED: Justin Skule Done For Year]
Kelemete appeared in 14 games with five starts for the Texans last season. For his career, he’s made 42 total starts at different positions along the offensive line. His versatility will be a major bonus for the Niners, who can plug him in at guard or tackle depending on their needs.
Kelemete came into the league as a fifth-round pick of the Cardinals in 2012. After one year in the desert, he spent the next five years with the Saints followed by three years with the Texans. He still had one year to go on his Texans deal, but they released him in February to save $1.73MM against the 2021 salary cap.
The veteran will still have to earn his spot on the Week 1 roster, but the odds are in his favor. If all goes well, he’ll serve as a top backup behind Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey while also seeing some reps on the interior.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 6/10/21
Here are the latest mid- and late-round rookie contracts agreed to around the league:
Jacksonville Jaguars
- S Andre Cisco (third round; Syracuse)
Tennessee Titans
- DL Rashad Weaver (fourth round; Pittsburgh)
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/10/21
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Jeff Holland
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: S Kemah Siverand
New York Jets
- Placed on IR: OL Parker Ferguson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Reverted to IR: WR Trevon Grimes
Jets To Sign S Sharrod Neasman
After five seasons in Atlanta, Sharrod Neasman will make his way north. The veteran safety and special-teamer agreed to a deal with the Jets on Thursday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
Despite having started just two career games, Neasman was with the Falcons from 2016-20. Atlanta picked him up as a UDFA out of Florida Atlantic and deployed him as a steady special-teamer for much of his time with the team. Neasman joins a Jets team fairly well-stocked at safety.
The Jets have Marcus Maye on the franchise tag, and they agreed to a deal with Lamarcus Joyner this offseason. Although the Raiders stationed Joyner in the slot the past two years, the Jets plan to use him at safety. New York also rosters 2020 third-round pick Ashtyn Davis.
Neasman, 29, started two games last season but was a regular on Atlanta’s special teams units during the 2019 and ’20 slates. The Falcons did use Neasman as a part-timer on defense in 2018, when both Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen were lost for the season in September, and last season. The Jets will now give him a chance to make the squad as a backup.