FOXBOROUGH, Mass.

The New England Patriots opened two spots on their 90- man roster when they waived cornerback Rashaan Melvin and linebacker James Vaughters.

The Patriots announced the transactions Monday.

Both Melvin and Vaughters had been signed to future contracts when the 2015 regular season concluded. Melvin played in eight games with the Patriots, recording three tackles, in 2015.

Vaughters spent the beginning of the 2015 season with the Green Bay Packers before signing with the Patriots in January 2016.

The Patriots went into the 2016 NFL Draft with 76 players on their 90-man roster. They drafted nine players and appear to have signed 10 undrafted free agents. The Patriots must release three more players before they sign their draft picks.

The Patriots also declined to pick up guard Jonathan Cooper’s fifth-year option. Picking up Cooper’s option would have cost the Patriots $11.9 million in 2016.

New England acquired Cooper in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals for Chandler Jones this offseason. In that deal, New England also picked up a second-round draft pick, which it traded to the New Orleans Saints for third- and fourth-round choices it later used to select North Carolina State guard Joe Thuney and Georgia wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell.

Steelers

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Looks like there’s still a little fuel left James Harrison’s tank after all.

The five-time Pro Bowl linebacker announced on his verified Instagram Monday that he plans on returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2016. Harrison posted a picture of his familiar No. 92 jersey emerging from a smoke-filled tunnel with a caption that read: “I’m back.”

Bills

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills have reached deals to sign 14 undrafted rookie free agents, including Oklahoma linebacker Eric Striker, who provided an emotional speech to family and friends after not being selected last weekend.

At 6-feet and 221 pounds, Striker went undrafted despite being a three-year starter, and had had 46 1/2 tackles for a loss and 23 sacks. On Saturday, a video emerged of Striker tearfully thanking family and friends for being with him through the draft process, while adding that he’s proven himself before.

The Bills also agreed to sign Kansas State fullback Glenn Gronkowski, the younger brother of New England Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski. Other notable additions were Marshall receiver Davonte Allen and Arizona State receiver Gary Chambers.

The Bills freed up room by cutting three players, including defensive end Jarius Wynn.

Jets

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets have exercised their fifth-year option on defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson, keeping him under contract with the team through the 2017 season.

The team also has announced Monday that it has declined the option, as expected, on oft-injured cornerback Dee Milliner, making the 2013 first-round draft pick a free agent after this season.

Richardson has 16 1/2 career sacks and was the 2013 Defensive Rookie of the Year after being selected 13th overall, four spots after the Jets took Milliner. Richardson’s immediate playing future is uncertain because he faces possible discipline from the NFL after being arrested last July and later pleading guilty in January to resisting arrest. He was suspended the first four games last season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Milliner has missed 27 games his first three seasons because of injuries.