Dolphins Announce Trade For Bears’ Adam Shaheen
The Dolphins have officially acquired tight end Adam Shaheen from the Bears, per a club announcement. In exchange, Miami will send a conditional 2021 seventh-round pick to Chicago. 
The Bears had a major logjam at tight end and they were at a breaking point with roster cuts just around the corner. Rather than releasing him outright, Chicago managed to get something in return for the former second-round pick.
Shaheen hasn’t played up to his 2017 expectations, thanks in part to injuries over the last three years. All in all, he has totaled 26 receptions for 249 yards and four touchdowns in 27 games, out of a possible 48. For the Dolphins, it’s effectively a no-risk pickup. If Shaheen doesn’t make the final cut in Miami, they won’t have to send that seventh-round choice to Chicago. Even if he does make the Week 1 roster, the trade could still wind up as a wash – often times, draft pick conditions in trades like these are tied to snap counts.
Mike Gesicki projects to serve as the Dolphins’ top TE. Beyond that, Shaheen will fight for his spot alongside Durham Smythe and Michael Roberts.
Seahawks’ Jamal Adams To Play On Current Deal
Jamal Adams agreed to play on his existing contract before the Seahawks completed their trade with the Jets, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). With that, Adams will play out the 2020 season on a modest $3.59MM salary. After that, Adams is due to make $9.86MM in 2021, per the new deal. 
[RELATED: Jets Trade Jamal Adams To Seahawks]
It’s likely that the two sides will resume talks after the season, but nothing has been promised to the Pro Bowl safety. In New York, Adams was adamant about getting a new deal that would position him as the league’s highest-paid safety and even stepped up his demands to the $20MM neighborhood. Reportedly, Adams was willing to sign a slightly cheaper extension with one of his preferred teams, a list that included the Seahawks. Still, that means a deal in excess of $15MM per annum to top Bears standout Eddie Jackson, and teams are understandably skittish about committing major dollars to players in this current climate.
Other disgruntled players have made similar concessions this offseason. Trent Williams wanted a long-term extension to put him near the top of the tackle leaderboard, but agreed to table talks once he was traded to the 49ers. Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue is reportedly willing to wait too, if another team is able to work out a deal. In the case of Williams, the Niners effectively met him in the middle by guaranteeing a portion of his 2020 salary and waiving their right to franchise tag him next year. It’s not clear whether the Seahawks are considering something similar for Adams.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/26/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: TE/FB Parker Houston
Los Angeles Rams
- Released: WR Greg Dortch, S Jake Gervase, C Nate Trewyn, TE Ethan Wolf
New England Patriots
- Released: CB Lenzy Pipkins
Dolphins Cut Ricardo Louis, Jake Rudock
The Dolphins have released wide receiver Ricardo Louis and quarterback Jake Rudock, as first reported by ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). The early cuts will help the Dolphins shape the roster to meet the league’s recommended 80-man roster max. 
[RELATED: Dolphins Rookie Ray Lima Retires]
Louis joined the Dolphins in the spring of 2019 but did not play due to a knee injury. Prior to that, he spent three years with the Browns and tallied 45 catches for 562 yards. The Miami native was hoping to reassert himself with his hometown club, but he’ll have to seek work elsewhere.
Rudock also joined the Dolphins last year, but spent the year on the practice squad. The 2016 sixth-round choice of the Lions has just three career appearances to his credit. Even before the release, Rudock was facing long odds of making the active roster. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tua Tagovailoa, and (possibly) Josh Rosen project to serve as the Dolphins’ active QBs to open the season.
Chargers Sign Justin Herbert, Wrap Draft Class
The Chargers have wrapped up their 2020 NFL Draft class, per a club announcement. Quarterback Justin Herbert was the first reported signing, and the rest of the crop followed soon after. The full rundown, per our tracker: 
1-6: Justin Herbert, QB (Oregon): Signed
1-23: Kenneth Murray, LB (Oklahoma): Signed
4-112: Joshua Kelley, RB (UCLA): Signed
5-151: Joe Reed, WR (Virginia): Signed
6-186: Alohi Gilman, S (Notre Dame): Signed
7-220: K.J. Hill, WR (Ohio State): Signed
Herbert was a polarizing prospect. Those that are high on the Oregon product believe that his elite arm strength will allow him to succeed as a starter. Others are concerned about his pension for holding on to the ball for too long. The debate between Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa was fierce, but, ultimately, the Dolphins made the decision for the Chargers by selecting the Alabama star No. 5 overall. At No. 6, GM Tom Telesco said that he would have been perfectly happy with either passer.
Herbert will have the unenviable task of eventually stepping into Philip Rivers’ shoes. For now, the 6’6″ rookie will likely begin the year as the QB2 behind Tyrod Taylor.
Giants To Sign Chandler Catanzaro
The Giants have agreed to sign Chandler Catanzaro, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Catanzaro will enter camp as the Giants’ frontrunner for the kicking job, which has been freed up by the release of Aldrick Rosas. 
[RELATED: Giants Cut Aldrick Rosas]
Catanzaro, 29, hooked on with the Jets last March. After a rocky training camp and equally rough start to the preseason, he announced his retirement. Now, he’s coming back for New Jersey’s other team.
The Clemson product had a tremendous start to his career with the Cardinals. Catanzaro nailed 87.9% of his kicks as a rookie and 90.3% of his tries in 2015. His success rate dipped to 75% in 2016, but bounced back a bit with the Jets in 2017, making 83.3% of his kicks and all of his PATs. Then, he dipped once again. His three-year deal with the Bucs was torn up pretty quickly after he missed two field goals in a loss to the Redskins, ending his Tampa Bay tenure with a weak 73.3% success rate. His last live action came with the Panthers towards the end of the 2018 campaign.
The Giants preferred Catanzaro’s on-field mistakes to Rosas’ off-the-field issues. Earlier this summer, cops alleged that Rosas was behind the wheel in a hit-and-run accident, and authorities suspect that alcohol was involved.
Raiders Sign Damon Arnette, Wrap Draft Class
The Raiders have wrapped up their 2020 NFL Draft class. Following their reported agreement with first-round wide receiver Henry Ruggs, the Raiders formally announced deals for the rest of the class. Here’s the full rundown, via PFR’s tracker: 
1-12: Henry Ruggs III, WR (Alabama): Signed
1-19: Damon Arnette, CB (Ohio State): Signed
3-80: Lynn Bowden Jr., WR (Kentucky): Signed
3-81: Bryan Edwards, WR (South Carolina): Signed
3-100: Tanner Muse, LB (Clemson): Signed
4-109: John Simpson, OL (Clemson): Signed
4-139: Amik Robertson, CB (Louisiana Tech): Signed
Per the terms of his slot, Arnette will receive a four-year deal worth $13.4MM, including a signing bonus of ~$7.3MM. Beyond that, the Raiders will hold a fifth-year option to keep him under club control through the 2024 season. Arnette wasn’t expected to go in the middle of the first round, but the Raiders aren’t afraid to buck conventional thought.
Arnette took a while to develop and reach Ohio State’s starting lineup, but once he got there, he provided the Buckeyes with a solid partner opposite star Jeff Okudah. With the ability to play on the inside or the outside, the Raiders believe that Arnette has what it takes to make it at the next level. His 4.56 second 40-yard-dash didn’t necessarily impress evaluators, but his ability to jam receivers at the line is a major plus.
Martavis Bryant Unlikely To Play In 2020
Earlier this month, we heard that Martavis Bryant was set to apply for reinstatement. Over the weekend, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) learned that the former Steelers and Raiders wide receiver has not actually submitted the paperwork. Bryant still hopes to play but RapSheet says there’s “more work to be done” and, therefore, it seems unlikely that Bryant will play this season. 
[RELATED: Raiders, Henry Ruggs Agree To Deal]
Bryant, 27, has been seeking treatment for mental health issues, including ADHD. He’s been in hot water with the league office on multiple occasions over the years, including the 2016 season was that was wiped out by a substance-abuse ban. Last year, he “seriously angered” the NFL during his appeal process and he’s been critical of Roger Goodell‘s handling of players with mental health issues in the past.
At last check, Bryant was taking drug tests to prove his sobriety. In order to be reinstated, he’ll have to test clean, and continue to test clean over time.
The Raiders gave up the No. 79 overall pick in the 2018 draft to acquire Bryant from the Steelers. In eight games, Bryant caught 19 passes for 266 yards. Previous to that, Bryant notched 17 touchdowns in just 36 contests for the Steelers, while averaging 15.2 yards per catch. He’s a talented deep threat, but he’ll have to get his affairs in order before he can retake the field.
Giants To Cut K Aldrick Rosas
The Giants are moving on from Aldrick Rosas, according to Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Rosas is facing three misdemeanor charges in connection with a hit-and-run accident earlier this summer. 
[RELATED: Latest On Giants, Markus Golden]
California authorities say that Rosas was going 100 mph when he t-boned another car in June and they believe that he may have been intoxicated. Per the police report, Rosas was driving erratically before he blew through a red light and smashed into the side of a pickup truck. Then, cops say he continued driving, stopped only when his SUV broke down, and took off running. When police arrived on the scene, they found Rosas walking nearby with his legs and bare feet covered in blood.
This wasn’t Rosas’ first incident. In February of 2016 – just before the draft – Rosas was arrested and charged with a DUI. The DUI charge was ultimately dismissed, but Rosas pled guilty to having a BAC over the legal limit and received 30 months of probation.
Since joining the Giants, Rosas has made 62 of his 75 field goal tries. In 2018, he earned a trip to the Pro Bowl, making him just one of four kickers in Giants franchise history to secure the honors. He’s been the Giants’ kicker for 48 straight games, but there were some hiccups last year, including four missed PATs.
Rosas’ release will take his $3.26MM salary off the books and leave the Giants’ with a kicking vacancy. Stephen Gostkowski – and old friend of Giants head coach Joe Judge – could be a logical fit.
Chiefs To Sign G Kelechi Osemele
The Chiefs have agreed to sign guard Kelechi Osemele to a one-year deal, as Terez A. Paylor of Yahoo Sports tweets. Financial terms of the deal are not yet known. 
[RELATED: LDT Opts Out Of 2020 NFL Season]
Osemele will help to fortify the Chiefs’ offensive line following Laurent Duvernay-Tardif‘s decision to opt out of the 2020 season. Osemele might not be the player he once was, but this is about as good as it gets for a last-minute August replacement. The 31-year-old is a two-time Pro Bowler with 96 career appearances, all of which are starts.
The Jets acquired Osemele from the Raiders last offseason in exchange for a Day 3 draft pick. He played through shoulder pain in the first three games of the season and told the team that he needed surgery. The Jets disagreed and urged the veteran to return to action. Things got uglier as the year wore on – the NFLPA got involved and went to bat on Osemele’s behalf. Ultimately, the Jets released him in October, months before his $11.35MM non-guaranteed base salary for 2020 was scheduled to kick in.
During his first Raiders season, Osemele graded out as one of the very best interior protectors in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. Soon, the Chiefs will see how much he has left in the tank. He’ll compete with newcomer Mike Remmers. Andrew Wylie, and Martinas Rankin for his spot on the depth chart.