Chargers To Sign Christian Covington
The Chargers are adding some depth to their defensive line. Los Angeles has agreed to terms with free agent defensive tackle Christian Covington, his agent David Canter announced on Twitter.
The Chargers previously had Linval Joseph, but not much else at defensive tackle. With Melvin Ingram leaving in free agency, their defensive front depth as a whole had been looking pretty thin. Covington was drafted by the Texans in the sixth-round back in 2015, and became a solid contributor and part-time starter in Houston.
In his final season with the Texans in 2018 he had his best year as a pass-rusher, racking up 3.5 sacks coming up the middle in only 12 games. He signed a one-year deal with Dallas in 2019, then a one-year $1.75MM contract with the Broncos last offseason.
He never ended up playing a game for Denver, as the Broncos traded him to the Bengals right before the start of last season. He appeared in all 16 games for Cincy, starting 14, and notching a career-high 39 tackles. The folks over at Pro Football Focus gave him middling grades for his work. He’ll turn 28 in October.
Colts To Sign Eric Fisher
The Colts have agreed to sign Eric Fisher, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Once finalized, it’ll be a one-year, $9.4MM deal for the Pro Bowl tackle. 
Fisher will now be tasked with protecting Carson Wentz’s blindside. He’ll also have some big shoes to fill, taking over for the job previously held by Anthony Castonzo. The former No. 1 overall pick should be well equipped for the role and he certainly profiles as a better option than the incumbents. After passing on elite tackles in the draft, the Colts were left with newcomers Sam Tevi and Julie’n Davenport as their best LT candidates.
The 30-year-old did not miss a start due to injury from 2014-18, but core muscle surgery derailed him afterwards. But, when he retook the field in 2019, he helped lift the Chiefs to a late-season win streak that culminated in a Super Bowl LIV victory. Last year, he was wiped out by an Achilles tear. The Chiefs opted to release him this offseason, paving the way for former Ravens standout Orlando Brown Jr.
The Colts are comfortable with Fisher’s rehab (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport), though he’s less than certain to be ready for Week 1. Either way, it’s a notable upgrade for Indy, especially since they can now keep guard Quenton Nelson on the interior.
Colts Bring In 5 UDFAs
The Colts have assembled their post-draft group, agreeing to terms with five UDFAs. Here is Indianapolis’ initial undrafted haul:
- Tarik Black, WR (Texas)
- Anthony Butler, LB (Liberty)
- Deon Jackson, RB (Duke)
- Isaiah Kaufusi, LB (BYU)
- Tyler Vaughns, WR (USC)
The Colts gave Jackson a lofty (for a UDFA) signing bonus, with NFL reporter Aaron Wilson tweeting the ex-Duke back will collect $45K to sign. Only two running backs clocked faster 40-yard dash times at 2021 pro days than Jackson’s 4.4-second sprint, according to Colts.com. Despite not topping 175 carries in any of his college seasons, Jackson totaled 2,267 rushing yards during a three-season run as a starter.
Vaughns will join former Trojans teammate Michael Pittman Jr. with the Colts; the former enjoyed a four-year run as a key USC aerial contributor. Working with Sam Darnold and 2022 first-round prospect Kedon Slovis, Vaughns totaled 2,801 receiving yards and 20 touchdown catches in four seasons. The 6-foot-2 wideout also saw extensive action as a punt returner. He posted 800-plus-yard seasons as a freshman and junior and was on pace for another in the Pac-12’s COVID-19-abbreviated 2020 slate.
Kaufusi will follow brothers Corbin and Bronson into the NFL. A 2016 Ravens draftee, Bronson played for the Ravens and Jets from 2017-19. The Packers and 49ers, respectively, gave Bronson and Corbin reserve/futures contracts in January. Father Steve Kaufusi also played in the NFL, spending time with the Buddy Ryan-era Eagles.
Jaguars Sign 5 UDFAs
The Jaguars signed the highest-profile undrafted free agent, agreeing to terms with former Alabama standout Dylan Moses. The team announced the rest of its initial UDFA haul. Here is the rest of Jacksonville’s group:
- D.J. Daniel, CB (Georgia)
- Josh Imatorbhebhe, WR (Illinois)
- Tim Jones, WR (Southern Miss)
- Kenny Randall, DT (Charleston)
- Corey Straughter, CB (Louisiana Monroe)
The two wide receivers follow a Jags draft that included one wideout — Georgia Tech’s Jalen Camp in Round 6. The team authorized a sizable guarantee to Jones, whom veteran NFL reporter Aaron Wilson tweets will collect $180K. Jacksonville guaranteed $165K of Jones’ base salary and will add a $15K signing bonus. Jones operated as a key Southern Miss target from 2018-20, posting his best season — a 73-catch, 902-yard campaign — as a junior in 2019.
Additionally, the Jaguars are guaranteeing Randall $120K, Wilson adds (on Twitter). Once a Temple commit, Randall played three seasons with Division II Charleston (W.V.). Randall, who joins seventh-round Colts wideout Mike Strachan as Charleston players to land with AFC South squads this year, registered 32.5 tackles for loss in three college seasons. He opted out of his senior season, which the pandemic moved to the spring.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/7/21
Today’s minor moves on a quiet Friday:
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: FB Sutton Smith
New York Jets
- Cut w/ failed physical designation: Saquan Hampton
Smith is a bit of an interesting story as the Steelers drafted him in the sixth-round back in 2019, as a linebacker. The Northern Illinois recently made the position switch to fullback after getting cut by a few teams, as Mike Triplett of ESPN.com tweets.
Steelers Make Trio Of Moves In Secondary
The Steelers made a trio of moves in their secondary as we head into the weekend. Pittsburgh signed safety Arthur Maulet while cutting cornerback Trevor Williams and safety John Battle, they announced Friday.
It’s a one-year deal with Maulet, who was with the Jets the past two seasons. Originally an UDFA with the Saints back in 2017, Maulet started a game for the Colts in 2018, but really found his footing in the league with New York in 2019. He appeared in 23 games and started 11 for the Jets over the past two years. In 11 games and five starts in 2020, he had 29 tackles, a sack, five passes defended, and an interception. He entered the league a little older than most so the Memphis product will turn 28 in July.
Williams looked like a potential very solid starter early in his career with the Chargers, but a knee injury derailed his career. Williams started 15 games for the Chargers in 2017 and seven in 2018 before the knee issue landed him on IR. He had been a part of a strong Chargers secondary, but was cut in 2019 after landing on injured reserve again.
Teams keep taking flyers on him since, as he’s had short stints with the Cardinals, Eagles and Jaguars recently, but they keep cutting him too. He’s still only 27, and will likely get another shot soon since teams seem to believe in his potential.
Battle is a 2019 UDFA from LSU who was on the Steelers’ practice squad last year.
Raiders Bring In 10 UDFAs
The Raiders became the latest team to announce their undrafted free agent class. Las Vegas’ initial group of UDFAs consists of 10 players. Here is the group:
- Matt Bushman, TE (BYU)
- Shaun Crawford, CB (Notre Dame)
- Garrett Groshek, RB (Wisconsin)
- Devery Hamilton, T (Duke)
- T.J. Morrison, CB (Stony Brook)
- Trey Ragas, RB (Louisiana)
- Max Richardson, LB (Boston College)
- Darius Stills, DT (West Virginia)
- Dillon Stoner, WR (Oklahoma State)
- DJ Turner, WR (Pittsburgh)
Both Bushman and Stoner received six-figure guarantees. The Raiders guaranteed Bushman $135K, according to veteran NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, who tweets the ex-BYU tight end will receive a $125K base salary guarantee and a $10K signing bonus. Stoner’s arrangement, via Wilson (on Twitter): $120K total guaranteed. Bushman worked as one of Zach Wilson‘s top targets from 2018-19 but suffered an Achilles tear ahead of the 2020 season. He still totaled 1,719 receiving yards in a productive three-year run with the Cougars.
Stoner and Turner join a crowded Raiders receiving corps. Las Vegas, which used first- and third-round picks on wideouts last year, signed both John Brown and Willie Snead this offseason. Stoner saw action in five Oklahoma State seasons, being a regular contributor going back to Mason Rudolph‘s final season. Stoner worked as the Cowboys’ punt returner and surpassed 570 receiving yards in each of his final four seasons, ranking in the top 10 in school history in catches and yards.
The Raiders are giving Hamilton a $75K guarantee, Wilson tweets. Hamilton played four seasons at Stanford before transferring to Duke as a grad student. Ragas worked as a primary Louisiana rusher for four seasons, totaling 596 carries. He topped 1,100 yards as a sophomore, averaged 7.1 per carry as a junior and scored 12 TDs in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 slate. Ragas will join a backfield flush with vets, however. Las Vegas signed Kenyan Drake and returns Josh Jacobs, Theo Riddick and Jalen Richard.
Broncos Place Ja’Wuan James On Reserve/NFI List
The Achilles’ tendon tear Ja’Wuan James suffered earlier this week has become a critical event in this NFL offseason, due to the veteran right tackle going down away from the Broncos’ facility.
Although there was some uncertainty regarding the veteran blocker’s availability in 2021, the Broncos placed James on the season-ending reserve/non-football injured list, Mike Klis of 9News reports. This opens up a roster spot but, more significantly, shields the Broncos from the obligation to pay James his $10MM base salary. It is not yet known, however, if the Broncos will withhold that salary.
The team could also go after $3MM of James’ $12MM signing bonus as well, but the former first-round pick’s Denver stay is likely over. It did not go well. Adrift at right tackle dating back to the Peyton Manning years, the Broncos attempted to solve this perennial issue by giving James a four-year, $51MM deal in 2019. However, knee trouble and a 2020 opt-out have limited James to 63 snaps as a Bronco.
Not paying James the $10MM would free up some cap space for the Broncos, who held the second-most room ($25MM-plus) before James went down. This would allow for funds to acquire a replacement; Bobby Massie and Dennis Kelly are set to meet with the team. The Broncos are not yet certain to release James, per Klis. Doing so would trigger a $9MM dead-money hit, if they do not go after part of his signing bonus.
In the wake of James’ injury, the NFL and NFLPA released statements regarding their most recent contentious issue. The union has called for a boycott of voluntary offseason workouts; the Broncos were the first team to indicate they would stand with the NFLPA’s proposed boycott. While some Broncos have reported to the facility, James was training away from Broncos headquarters because of the boycott. The league and union remain at odds on this matter.
Eagles Claim RB Kerryon Johnson
Kerryon Johnson will not make it to free agency. The Eagles submitted a successful waiver claim Friday and will bring in the three-year veteran running back, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
The Lions waived the 2018 second-round pick this week. Johnson, who has battled injuries as a pro but returned to play in 16 games last season, has one year left on his rookie deal.
Sitting sixth on the waiver wire, Philadelphia has Miles Sanders entrenched as its starter. The team also rosters Boston Scott and used a fifth-round pick on Kenneth Gainwell last week. An Auburn alum who went off the 2018 draft board 43rd overall, Johnson fell out of favor in Detroit. The Eagles also have a new coaching staff, however, and will see if Johnson can play a complementary role.
Although Johnson joined Mikel Leshoure and Ameer Abdullah as 2010s Lions second-round backs that fell short of expectations, he did show some promise as a rookie. Johnson averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2018 and scored four touchdowns in 10 games. However, the first of his knee injuries sidetracked that season. Johnson suffered a knee injury in 2019 as well. The 2018 knee malady did not require an IR stay, but Johnson went on IR twice in 2019.
Interestingly, the 23-year-old back did not miss any time in 2020. But the Lions had moved in a different direction. They drafted D’Andre Swift in Round 2 and signed Adrian Peterson. Both played in front of Johnson, who logged 52 carries for 181 yards during an off-radar season.
Texans, LB Neville Hewitt Agree To Deal
Yet another Texans one-year linebacker deal will commence this offseason. Veteran linebacker Neville Hewitt agreed to terms with the team Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Hewitt arrived in Houston on Thursday for a visit; the meeting produced an accepted offer. The six-year vet spent the first four seasons of his career as a backup, working primarily in a reserve capacity for the Dolphins and Jets. But he operated as a starter for the past two years.
The 28-year-old off-ball ‘backer will join several new arrivals at the position for the Texans. They have agreed to deals with Christian Kirksey, Tae Davis, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Joe Thomas, Hardy Nickerson and ex-Hewitt Jets teammate Kevin Pierre-Louis this offseason. Hewitt, Pierre-Louis and outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins were each part of the 2018 Jets’ linebacking corps.
The Texans will add Hewitt after his best NFL season. The former UDFA finished eighth in the league with 134 tackles; he added six for loss and two sacks. While the Jets went 2-14, Hewitt produced throughout the season and logged a career-high 99% of his team’s defensive snaps.
Although the Texans traded Benardrick McKinney to the Dolphins, they still have starter Zach Cunningham signed long-term. The rest of this lot will vie for the other off-ball linebacker jobs, doing so alongside fifth-round pick Garret Wallow.