SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Seahawks sign DE Tavaris Barnes, TE Brandon Williams ahead of draft

Apr 28, 2016, 12:44 PM | Updated: 2:24 pm

Tavaris Barnes, a defensive end out of Clemson, played 12 games for New Orleans as a rookie in 2015...

Tavaris Barnes, a defensive end out of Clemson, played 12 games for New Orleans as a rookie in 2015. (AP)

(AP)

The Seahawks announced the signings of two players, defensive end Tavaris Barnes and tight end Brandon Williams, hours before the start of the NFL Draft on Thursday.

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Barnes, 24, played 12 games as a rookie for the New Orleans Saints, registering five tackles (three solo) after signing as an undrafted free agent. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Clemson product also made contributions on special teams. He was released by New Orleans on Monday.

Williams, 28, has played 29 games in the NFL over three seasons with the Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins. He has four career receptions for 44 yards, all coming in the 2014 season in which he appeared in 14 games Carolina. The 6-foot-4, 255-pound former Oregon Duck was declared a free agent in March.

Also on Thursday, the Seahawks waived QB Phillip Sims, per the NFL’s transaction report. They had signed him to a futures contract after the 2015 regular season ended.

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