NFL Player News

The Steelers signed Edwards as an undrafted free agent Saturday.

Edwards was just a one-year starter at Georgia and overall functioned as part of a backfield committee. He concluded his four-year collegiate career with a 391-2,082-24 rushing line. Edwards is strong in pass-protection and joins a Pittsburgh backfield that is led by Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren and newcomer Cordarrelle Patterson.

Watson is slated to sign with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic reports.

Watson spent five years at Old Dominion before transferring to Memphis for his super-senior season. He led the Tigers in rushing with 192-1,152-14 on the ground and added 53-480-3 as a receiver, earning All-AAC honors. Watson joins a crowded Denver backfield depth chart that includes Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Jaleel McLaughlin and fifth-round rookie Audric Estime.

GM Trent Baalke said Saturday that the Jaguars will exercise the fifth-year option on Etienne's rookie contract, John Shipley of SI.com reports.

The same can be said for fellow 2021 first-round pick Trevor Lawrence, which will become official by Thursday's deadline to lock in such options. After getting drafted three years ago, Etienne's pro debut was delayed due to a Lisfranc injury during the preseason in August 2021, but he's since rushed for more than 1,000 yards in both of the last two seasons while racking up 93 catches for 792 yards in 34 regular-season contests. He'll continue to lead Jacksonville's backfield for the next two campaigns ahead of Tank Bigsby once the aforementioned option is exercised.

Gore intends to sign with the Bills as an undrafted free agent, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.

The son of longtime NFL back Frank Gore, Gore spent all four years at Southern Miss and carried the ball 759 times for 4,022 yards and 26 touchdowns during his collegiate career. He led the team in rushing all four seasons and earned an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl where Gore was named Offensive MVP. A college workhorse, Gore joins a light depth chart that includes James Cook, fourth-round rookie Ray Davis, Ty Johnson and Darrynton Evans.

Johnson is in line to sign with the Titans as an undrafted free agent, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

After three years at Mississippi State where he functioned mainly as a pass-catching back, Johnson transferred to Washington for his senior season, exploding for a 233-1,195-16 rushing line and 24 catches for 190 scoreless yards. Johnson was a a second-team All-Pac-12 selection and will join a depth chart in Tennessee led by offseason pickup Tony Pollard and second-year back Tyjae Spears.

Schrader is slated to sign with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent, Jordan Schultz of BleacherReport.com reports.

Schrader had a mid-to-late-round draft grade from most analysts but somewhat surprisingly wasn't selected Saturday. Already 24 years old, Schrader walked on at Mezzo after four years at Truman State. He was a bellcow back for the Tigers from 2022-2023, amassing 446-2,372-23 on the ground and 41 catches for 328 scoreless yards. He led the SEC in rushing as a sixth-year senior last season. Schrader joins a backfield that includes Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, fourth-round rookie Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor.

Bailey intends to sign with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Bailey (5-foot-7, 206 pounds) started his college career at Louisiana before transferring to TCU after a strong redshirt freshman season. As a one-year starter for the Horned Frogs, Bailey registered a 223-1,209-8 rushing season, adding 25-184-1 as a receiver after Kendre Miller and Emari Demercado left college for the NFL the year before. Bailey will try to win a job behind Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire this summer.

The Raiders selected Laube in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 208th overall.

Laube was an extremely productive workhorse at New Hampshire, but at 5-foot-10, 206 pounds Laube has a frame more conventionally seen among third-down backs. That should suit Laube just fine -- Laube averaged more than five catches per game in his final two seasons and is clearly comfortable catching passes. Zamir White appears locked in as starter for Las Vegas and the duo of Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah both excel on passing downs, but Laube has better pure pass-catching ability than any of them.

The Texans selected Jordan in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 205th overall.

Jordan led Louisville in rushing yards last season (1,128) and compiled 13 touchdowns on the ground, but the running back will turn 25 at the start of the season and is very slight (5-foot-9, 193 pounds) for a ballcarrier that doesn't have a ton of straight-line speed (4.53 40-yard dash). Jordan's vision and craftiness to set up blocks made him an explosive playmaker in college, but that sort of time won't be allotted to him at the professional level.

The Falcons selected McClellan in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 186th overall.

Like many Alabama backs, McClellan had to wait his turn before becoming the lead runner. He got the chance in 2023 and averaged 4.9 yards per carry, illustrating a relative lack of explosiveness. McClellan's draft stock took another hit as he ended the season with a foot injury, which prevented him from working out at either the NFL Combine or Alabama's Pro Day. He also isn't likely to see the field much in the short term with Atlanta, as the team already boasts Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier as options in the backfield.