Tag: Devin Smith

Urban Meyer dips into Buckeye past again, signs former wide receiver Devin Smith

Urban Meyer has signed another former Ohio State player to add depth to the wide receiver group of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

We had an idea former Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer would give some guys chances in the NFL that he’s had history with, but we didn’t see him going this far. Tim Tebow? Check. Tight end Luke Farrell? Check again. How about running back Carlos Hyde. Yep.

And now, we can add another player to that list. After providing a tryout to former field-stretching wide receiver Devin Smith, Myer has gone a step further and now signed the speedster to a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team announced Saturday.

The NFL has not been kind so far to the former second-round draft pick of the New York Jets. He’s battled several injuries and has yet to be able to stay on the field and show enough productivity to stick at the highest level. He most recently found his way on the New England Patriots practice squad but hasn’t played a snap since he moonlighted with the Dallas Cowboys in 2019.

If Smith still has those same skills that set him apart at Ohio State, there’s definitely a place for him in the NFL. He’ll probably get a better shot to show what he can do under Urban Meyer than previous stops, so hopefully, he’s able to stay healthy and perform at the level he and others close to him expect.

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Jags announce 2 additions on offense alongside Gardner Minshew trade

In addition to trading Gardner Minshew II, the Jags signed WR Devin Smith and OL Jermaine Eluemunor Saturday.

After making the unsurprising decision to send Gardner Minshew II to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Jacksonville Jaguars made the announcement official. They also announced that they signed two players on offense in receiver Devin Smith and lineman Jermaine Eluemunor.

Smith, who played for Urban Meyer at Ohio State, reportedly worked out for the Jags earlier in the month. With speed threat Tavon Austin recently suffering a quad injury that has put him in a day-to-day situation, the decision to sign Smith makes a ton of sense. He will join the Jags after previously being on the New England Patriots’ practice squad last season.

Smith, who was a second-round pick for the New York Jets in 2015, has also spent time with the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans. He’ll enter his time in Jacksonville with 15 catches for 248 yards and two touchdowns.

As for Eluemunor, he was a fifth-round pick for the Baltimore Ravens in 2017 out of Texas A&M. He spent two seasons with them, then two with the Pats before spending this offseason with the Miami Dolphins. He has experience at both guard and tackle and has registered 11 career starts since entering the league. As a rookie, he was also named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team after seeing the field for eight games and playing in two.

Bennie Fowler, Malachi Dupre among Saints free agent tryouts

The Saints brought in a crowd of free agents including wide receivers Kevin White, Malachi Dupre, Bennie Fowler, and Devin Smith for tryouts:

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The first wave of roster cuts across the NFL is unpleasant at best, but the New Orleans Saints have taken the opportunity to bring in free agents for tryouts to see where they can improve their team. A group of six players worked out for the team on Tuesday, and more are on the way. Here is everything you need to know:

Former Ohio State receiver works out for Urban Meyer and the Jaguars

Devin Smith’s time in the NFL has been plagued with injury. Could a reunion with Urban Meyer revive his career?

It’s no secret Urban Meyer loves his former players. Look no further for evidence than Meyer inviting his former Heisman-winning quarterback at Florida, Tim Tebow, for a tryout at tight end.

And why wouldn’t he give some of those guys an opportunity? There’s something to be said about trust and a relationship that is already present. Not to mention the fact many players will dig a little deeper for a coach they love and respect.

Recently, Meyer gave one of his former wide receivers a chance to impress and possibly join the Jacksonville Jaguars. Devin Smith, who was the key deep threat in Ohio State’s 2014 national title run, is looking to make a comeback and would love to join up with his former college coach.

Smith was a second-round pick of the New York Jets in 2015, but his career has been plagued by injury. He last suited up in 2019 with the Dallas Cowboys. He appeared in four games, hauling in five receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown.

If Smith can stay healthy, he has the talent to play and could stretch the field for a young rookie quarterback. We’ll keep you posted if things develop further between Smith and the Jags.

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Patriots place eight players on PUP list, including Stephon Gilmore and Chase Winovich

These players aren’t entirely ready to practice, but they can come off the PUP list at any time.

Training camp is just days away and the New England Patriots are less than two months from hitting the field for a hopeful 2021 season.

For the most part, the Patriots’ roster is healthy and ready for action. ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported that eight players will be opening on the active/physically unable to perform list (PUP) to open up training camp.

CB Stephon Gilmore, OLB Chase Winovich, QB Jarrett Stidham, LB Terez Hall, DT Byron Cowart, ST Brandon King, TE Dalton Keene and WR Devin Smith are on the list.

Gilmore did report to training camp after an uncertain offseason due to contract issues, but he’s still nursing the season-ending quad injury that put him out in 2020. Gilmore alluded to the idea that he’s doing much better and should be ready for the season.

Training camp begins next week.

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Will Jets continue streak of passing on non-QB skill positions in the first round?

Take quarterbacks out of the equation, and it’s been more than a decade since the Jets used a first-round pick on a skill position.

Quarterbacks aside, it’s been more than a decade since the Jets used a first-round pick on a skill position.

Dustin Keller was the last. The Jets used the 30th overall pick in the 2008 draft on the Purdue tight end. Now, after 12 years, Gang Green is tied with the Steelers for the second-longest streak without drafting a non-QB skill position in the first round. The Packers own the longest such streak at 18 years.

Since 2008, the Jets have used first-round picks on four defensive backs, three defensive tackles, two defensive ends, one linebacker and one offensive tackle. They have also drafted two quarterbacks — Mark Sanchez and Sam Darnold — since 2008.

Since Keller, wide receiver Devin Smith is the highest Gang Green has drafted a non-QB skill player. He was taken with the 37th overall pick (second round) in 2015. That didn’t work out for New York, as Smith battled injuries from the onset of his career.

Keller, meanwhile, was an effective tight end for the Jets, catching 17 touchdowns and totaling just under 3,000 yards over five seasons in New York.

The question now is whether or not the Jets will snap their streak.

Joe Douglas is expected to take a quarterback — specifacally BYU’s Zach Wilson — with the second overall pick. But the Jets also own the 23rd pick in the first round. It’s possible Douglas uses that on a talented wide receiver or a do-it-all running back depending on who’s still available, but it makes more sense to use that selection on an offensive lineman or a cornerback.

Upgradring the pass-rush and trading back are also more likely options at this stage in the draft.

Fortunately for Douglas, this is a deep draft when it comes to skill positions. He should be able to find some impact players later on if New York’s streak continues.

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Patriots sign 10 players to futures contracts for 2021

New England retains a quarterback, two kickers and three receivers.

The New England Patriots have signed ten players to futures contracts for 2021, with one quarterback, three receivers, one guard, two kickers, two defensive tackles and one cornerback.

All ten of the players came off New England’s practice squad from 2020. Teams can extend futures contracts to anyone who wasn’t on a roster at the end of Week 17.

These contracts don’t take effect until the 2021 NFL season begins in March when the players will be added to the 90-man roster. The futures contracts are generally minimum-salary deals, with little or no signing bonus. The Patriots did not announce the terms to any of these deals.

Patriots sign WR Devin Ross, CB Dayan Lake to practice squad

The New England Patriots made a series of roster moves on Wednesday.

The New England Patriots made a series of roster moves on Wednesday, adding former Ohio State wide receiver Devin Smith and former BYU cornerback Dayan Lake to the practice squad. As a corresponding move, the Patriots released linebacker Jack Cichy.

Smith was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft. A torn ACL ended his rookie season early, as he recorded 150 receiving yards and a touchdown in 10 games. With injuries hampering his time with the Jets, he was released by the organization in July 2018.

From there, Smith made stops with the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans. Now, he looks to bolster New England’s receiving core and add depth in the process.

Lake went undrafted in this April’s draft, but had a successful career at BYU. He started 43 of 48 games, tallying 207 tackles and two sacks in addition to three forced fumbles and 15 pass breakups. He also holds the BYU record with seven fumble recoveries.

Lake signed with the Rams following the draft, but he was cut by the team as part of the organization’s final cuts. Lake should be able to help as a depth piece for the secondary.

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Report: Patriots hosting free agent WR, DB for workouts

More reinforcements? Or just due dilligence?

The New England Patriots are bringing in free agent receiver Devin Smith and defensive back Dayan G. Lake for COVID-19 testing and workouts, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. It’s unclear if the Patriots are interested in these players for the practice squad or the 53-man roster, though it’s likely the former.

Smith, a 2015 second-round pick, spent three seasons with the New York Jets before landing with the Dallas Cowboys in 2019 and the Houston Texans in 2020. New England has receivers Damiere Byrd, N’Keal Harry, Jakobi Meyers, Gunner Olszewski and Donte Moncrief with practice squad players, Kristian Wilkerson and Isaiah Zuber.

Lake went undrafted in 2020 and landed with the Rams to start this season. New England has cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore, J.C. Jackson, Jonathan Jones, Jason McCourty and Joejuan Williams. The Patriots practice squad includes defensive back D’Angelo Ross.

New England won its matchup against the Chargers in Week 13. The Patriots play the Rams in L.A. in Week 14.

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Texans add 2 defensive players to practice squad

The Houston Texans have made some moves to their practice squad, adding ILB Curtis Bolton and DE Kendall Futrell, while releasing WR Devin Smith.

The Houston Texans have stashed two defensive players on their practice squad.

On Tuesday, the Texans announced they signed defensive end Kendall Futrell and inside linebacker Curtis Bolton to the practice squad.

Futrell is an undrafted rookie from East Carolina who is 6-2, 226 pounds. With that type of size, the Texans will no doubt kick him outside to play as a two-point edge rusher on defense.

Bolton went undrafted out of Oklahoma in 2019 and spent that season with the Green Bay Packers on injured reserve as he tore his ACL during preseason. Bolton was released at the end of July 2020 after being placed on the physically unable to perform list.

To make room for Futrell and Bolton, the Texans released former New York Jets 2015 second-round pick Devin Smith. The receiver had been on Houston’s practice squad since Sept. 21.