Analysis: Gratz, the 64th overall selection, finished his college career with 189 tackles, 30 passes defensed and eight interceptions at Connecticut. He returned two of his eight picks for touchdowns. He also is a projected starter, working the entire offseason opposite Alan Ball.
Analysis: Cyprien, the 33rd overall pick in April's draft, had 365 tackles, six forced fumbles and seven interceptions in four years at Florida International. He led the team with 93 tackles and four interceptions last season. He is expected to start as a rookie alongside veteran Dwight Lowery.
Gonzalez has won the 2013 Good Guy Award from the Professional Football Writers of America.
Analysis: Gonzalez, who recently announced he will play one more season after originally planning to retire, has been honored for his professionalism in helping pro football writers do their jobs. Gonzalez had one of his best seasons at age 36 as the Falcons went 13-3 and won the NFC South. One of the NFL's most popular players, Gonzalez caught a team-high 93 passes for 930 yards and eight touchdowns, earning his 13th Pro Bowl appearance.
The Lions announced the signing of Veldman on Monday.
Analysis: Veldman was cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars last week. The former North Dakota State standout signed with the Jaguars a year ago, but didn't play because he tore a knee ligament in August and was put on injured reserve.
The Green Bay Packers have released linebacker Desmond Bishop.
Analysis: Bishop and the team couldn't agree on a restructured contract. Bishop was due to make $3.464 million this season after missing all of last year with a hamstring injury.
The New York Jets have signed tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. to a one-year deal after a solid performance during the team's three-day minicamp.
Analysis: Winslow was brought in on a tryout basis and impressed coach Rex Ryan, who said Thursday that the former Pro Bowl tight end's "athleticism and his ability to catch the football, it certainly jumps out."
Cruz has signed his $2.879 million tender with the New York Giants. Two people familiar with the contract told The Associated Press on Friday that the restricted free agent with three years in the NFL had signed the tender while he works on a long-term deal with the Giants.
Analysis: The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the signing has not been announced publicly. Had the 26-year-old Cruz not signed before Monday, the Giants' offer could have been reduced to $630,000 for the 2013 season. The Giants could have matched any offers Cruz received from other teams.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed fourth-round draft pick Jones to a four-year deal. The former Oklahoma quarterback is the ninth and final Pittsburgh draft pick to come to terms.
Analysis: Pittsburgh selected Jones with the 115th overall pick in the draft and is the highest draft pick the Steelers have used on a quarterback since taking Ben Roethlisberger in the first round of the 2004 draft.
Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles have agreed on a four-year contract.
Analysis: Barkley was selected in the fourth round of the NFL draft after a standout career at Southern California. The move announced Thursday leaves only one draft pick unsigned. Barkley rewrote the conference record book during a USC-record 47 starts over four seasons, becoming the Pac-12's leader in touchdown passes, yards passing, completions and total offense.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed Hagan. The eighth-year pro has appeared in 83 games, mostly as a reserve, during his NFL career.
Analysis: He has 129 career receptions for 1,480 yards and six touchdowns with the Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders. Hagan had 20 catches for 259 yards for the Raiders last season. To make room on the roster Thursday, the Bucs waived rookie receiver Jheranie Boyd.
Bush says his role will be similar to the one he had in New Orleans and not much like his job description was with the Miami Dolphins.
Analysis: The Lions plan to put Bush in the backfield and out wide at receiver, trying to take advantage of his speed. Detroit hope Bush becomes the big-play running back it hasn't had since concussions took Jahvid Best off the field. Bush signed a $16 million, four-year contract with the Lions in March. Bush says he could've re-signed in Miami or played for Arizona, Seattle or Atlanta.
The Denver Broncos have released McGahee, their leading rusher last year. The 31-year-old running back is the NFL's active leader with 33 100-yard games. McGahee is coming off a right knee injury that sidelined him for the final two months last season. The 11-year veteran was set to make $2.5 million in 2013.
Analysis: McGahee skipped all of the team's 10 voluntary workouts but returned to Dove Valley for their three-day mandatory minicamp that ends Thursday.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have waived Lane after three seasons and undrafted rookie cornerback Trey Wilson. The team made the moves before its final practice of the offseason.
Analysis: Lane, a fifth-round draft pick from Murray State in 2010, played in 28 games with 16 starts. He had 103 tackles and three sacks. He became expendable with the emergence of second-year player Andre Branch and the move of defensive tackle Tyson Alualu to end.
Martin doesn't believe in the so-called sophomore jinx. Tampa Bay's second-year running back rushed for 1,454 yards and scored 12 touchdowns as a rookie, and the Buccaneers believe he's capable of performing even better in 2013.
Analysis: Especially with two of the team's best players - guards Carl Nicks and Davin Joseph - returning from injuries to strengthen the offensive line. Martin finished third in the NFL behind Adrian Peterson and Calvin Johnson with 1,926 total yards from scrimmage in 2012. He was fourth in rushing behind Peterson, Alfred Morris, Marshawn Lynch and Jamal Charles after being selected with the 31st overall pick of last year's draft.
Brackett will be sidelined until training camp following groin surgery. Coach Gus Bradley says Brackett had surgery Tuesday after getting a second opinion on his injured groin. Bradley adds that Brackett should be ready for camp, which starts July 26.
Analysis: Brackett is the team's second player to undergo groin surgery in the last two weeks, joining defensive end Jason Babin. A second-year player from Penn State, Brackett is competing for a roster spot in Jacksonville. The Jaguars claimed Brackett off waivers from Philadelphia early last season, but he injured his knee during his first practice and spent the rest of the year on injured reserve.
Mark Sanchez and Smith are locked in a tight quarterback competition, with neither one pulling away so far.
Analysis: Rex Ryan and the New York Jets might not know who their starting quarterback is until sometime during training camp in August - and the coach is willing to be patient. Quarterbacks coach David Lee says Wednesday that "we'll know when we know" that the Jets have their starter.
Sanchez and Geno Smith are locked in a tight quarterback competition, with neither one pulling away so far.
Analysis: Rex Ryan and the New York Jets might not know who their starting quarterback is until sometime during training camp in August - and the coach is willing to be patient. Quarterbacks coach David Lee says Wednesday that "we'll know when we know" that the Jets have their starter.
The New England Patriots announced the signing of the polarizing quarterback with the poor throwing motion on Tuesday, six weeks after he was cut by the New York Jets and just in time for the start of the three-day minicamp that runs through Thursday.
Analysis: Tebow, 25, is being reunited with Josh McDaniels, the Patriots offensive coordinator who was Denver's head coach when the Broncos traded into the first round to take him with the 25th draft pick in 2010. There is no guarantee that Tebow will still be with the Patriots when training camp begins next month, but if the Patriots keep him, he would have time to develop as a quarterback since Tom Brady holds that job.
© 2013 by STATS LLC.