Minor NFL Transactions: 4/16/18
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Beau Sandland
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LS Scott Daly
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-Signed: OT Cornelius Lucas
Rams S Lamarcus Joyner Signs Tender
Rams safety Lamarcus Joyner has signed his $11.287MM franchise tag, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). After inking the deal, Joyner participated in the Rams’ offseason workout program, which kicked off on Monday. 
In March, the Rams wrestled with the decision to franchise tag either Joyner or wide receiver Sammy Watkins. Ultimately, they tagged Joyner and allowed Watkins to test the open market. Watkins signed a surprisingly lucrative three-year, $48MM deal with the Chiefs with a whopping $30MM guaranteed at signing, numbers that were too rich for the Rams’ blood.
Joyner doesn’t have the same name value as Watkins, but he is a tremendous player in his own right. After spending most of his career at cornerback, Joyner moved to free safety in 2017 and enjoyed a breakout season. In 2017, Joyner started 12 games and graded out as the third-best safety in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.
This year, Joyner will return as the Rams’ starting free safety, but the rest of the secondary will look decidedly different. Trade acquisitions Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib will be starting at cornerback while veteran Sam Shields will help support them from the bench. In the middle, rising sophomore John Johnson will start at strong safety.
Browns, Jags Not Interested In Dez Bryant
The Jaguars are unlikely to pursue Dez Bryant, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Times-Union (on Twitter). Same goes for the Browns, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com hears. 
The Browns seem pretty well set at wide receiver with high-priced acquisition Jarvis Landry and Josh Gordon leading the way. Beyond those two, they also have former first-round pick Corey Coleman, athletic ex-Packer Jeff Janis, and others in the mix. Presumably, Bryant is looking for a situation where he would rank no lower than second on a team’s WR depth chart.
The Jaguars would have made a bit more sense for Bryant after losing Allen Robinson to free agency. Still, they have Marqise Lee, Donte Moncrief, and Dede Westbrook leading the way. It’s also likely that top exec Tom Coughlin does not see Bryant as a personality fit for his locker room.
While the Jags and Browns are not in on Bryant, other teams are expected to show interest. Late last week, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter identified the Cardinals, Bills, and Packers as potential fits. The Ravens also reportedly have interest.
Dolphins Sign TE Gavin Escobar
The Dolphins announced that they have signed tight end Gavin Escobar. Escobar became available last week when he was cut loose by the Browns.
Escobar, 27, never lived up his to second-round draft status with the Cowboys. In four seasons with Dallas, he managed just 30 receptions for 333 yards. He inked a minimum salary benefit contract with the Chiefs in March of 2017, but did not make the final cut. He later hooked on with the Ravens, but he did not record an official statistic in his two games with the club.
The Dolphins did not re-sign tight ends Julius Thomas and Anthony Fasano and both players remain on the open market. As it stands, Escobar will look to fight for a roster spot in a group that includes A.J. Derby, MarQueis Gray, and Thomas Duarte.
Chargers Rework Corey Liuget’s Contract
The Chargers and defensive tackle Corey Liuget have agreed to terms on a revised contract to keep him in Los Angeles for another season, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Liuget was set to earn $8MM in 2018, but his status was unclear heading into this year. 
Liuget will miss the first four games of the season after violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. The 28-year-old was already going to lose out on $2MM in base salary, but he’ll now make even less under the revised terms of his contract.
The former first-round pick appeared in 12 games in 2017, posting 15 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He graded out as the league’s No. 32 ranked interior run defender, per Pro Football Focus, and was especially proficient as a pass rusher. His 81.8 grade ranked 15th amongst all defensive tackles last year.
For the first month of the season, the Chargers will rely on reserves Darius Philon, Damion Square, and Kaleb Eulis to fill in for Liuget alongside Brandon Mebane. The Bolts may also bolster that unit through next week’s draft.
Eagles QB Nick Foles Open To Trade?
The reigning Super Bowl MVP is set to serve as a backup next season. Nick Foles is alright with that, but he sounds like he wouldn’t be opposed to a trade either. 
“We love Philly. I know there was some stuff going around, a possible trade, and I would love the opportunity to be a starter again. I know my spot in Philly. I think I’ve shown what I can do,” Foles told KVUE in Texas. “I’m signed for one more year and I love the team, I love the city. I’m excited for Carson [Wentz] to get back on his feet. I’ll be ready to go whenever they need me. But we’ll see. Just living in the moment.”
The Eagles were reportedly seeking at least a first- and fourth-round pick for Foles this offseason, but that kind of deal never materialized. In late March, head coach Doug Pederson pretty much put the kibosh on any trade talk.
It would be surprising to see the Eagles move Foles at this juncture, but they pulled off a similar move in 2016 when they dealt Sam Bradford to the Vikings in September of 2016. The Eagles value Foles and want to keep him on board in the event that Wentz gets injured again, but it’s possible that a contender will blow them away with an offer in the event of an injury to a starting QB.
Redskins Pick Up Brandon Scherff’s Option
The Redskins have exercised the fifth-year option on guard Brandon Scherff, Albert Breer of The MMQB tweets. The two-time Pro Bowler is now under contract through the 2019 season. 
The decision to extend Scherff for another season was a no-brainer for the Redskins. The former No. 5 pick in the 2015 draft has started in every one of his games over the last three seasons and has been rated as a top-tier lineman by the advanced metrics in each of the last two years. Last season, Scherff earned a career-best 83.2 overall score from Pro Football Focus, making him the eighth-highest ranked guard in the NFL. He placed ahead of many notables, including Ronald Leary, Richie Incognito, T.J. Lang, and Kelechi Osemele.
The fifth-year option is guaranteed for injury only, so the Redskins will be able to press the eject button before the additional year kicks in if Scherff’s performance suffers. The additional year for players taken in the top ten is equal to the transition tender at the player’s position during his fourth season. The transition tag for offensive lineman this year was $12.525MM, so that will be Scherff’s projected salary for ’19.
Ravens Interested In Dez Bryant
The Ravens are interested in former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, a source tells Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun. The Ravens missed their opportunity to select Bryant in the 2010 draft, but they have an opportunity to snag him now after his release from Dallas. 
In theory, Bryant could give the Ravens another major weapon to pair with Michael Crabtree at the top of their wide receiver depth chart. However, it’s fair to wonder if Bryant is still capable of high-level production. Between 2012 and 2014, he averaged 91 catches for 1,312 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Cowboys. Over the last three years, those averages have plummeted to 50 catches for 678 yards and 6 TDs. Bryant stayed healthy last season, but he missed ten games due to injury between 2015 and 2016.
Bryant is reportedly out for revenge on his former team, which may mean looking to join up with an NFC East rival that will allow him to face the Cowboys twice per year. Still, it’s not clear whether there’s serious interest from the Giants or Eagles and the Redskins do not have him on the radar. Beggars can’t be choosers at this stage of free agency and Bryant may have to move on to another division if he wants to land a decent payday.
The Ravens have upwards of $10MM in cap space, so they have the flexibility to add Bryant.
Vikings Sign Eric Kendricks To Extension
The Vikings have signed linebacker Eric Kendricks to a contract extension, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s a five-year, $50MM deal with $25MM guaranteed. 
Kendricks, a product of the 2015 draft, was set to enter the final year of his rookie contract. Because he was a second round pick, the Vikings did not have the option of extending him via the fifth-year option.
The linebacker earned his big money deal after leading the Vikings in tackles in each of his first three seasons. In total, he has racked up 314 regular season tackles, plus 24 in the postseason. Last year, he set a new career high with 113 tackles and played on 1,099 snaps which was good for seventh amongst all linebackers in the NFL.
Kendricks’ work against the pass has helped the Vikings bottle up opposing tight ends as well as pass-catching running backs. Last year, the Vikings D allowed the fewest passing yards to opposing tailbacks in the league. Meanwhile, Football Outsiders had them ranked as the top overall defense in the NFL.
The Vikings have several defensive stars locked up with cornerback Xavier Rhodes, safety Harrison Smith, defensive end Everson Griffen, defensive tackle Linval Joseph, and Kendricks under contract for multiple seasons. There’s still some work to be done, however, with linebacker Anthony Barr and edge rusher Danielle Hunter on the agenda.
Bills Sign WR Jeremy Kerley
The Bills announced that they have signed wide receiver Jeremy Kerley. The team also signed defensive tackle Tenny Palepoi. 
Kerley, 29, has a few productive seasons on his resume. The wide receiver played for the Jets for five years before signing up with the Niners in 2016. In San Francisco, he broke out with 64 catches for 667 yards and three touchdowns. Last year, he returned to Gang Green but was unable to reprise that performance. He had 22 catches for 217 yards and one score in eight games before he was hit with a PED suspension and eventually released. Kerley auditioned for the Ravens towards the end of the year but did not sign with another team.
Kerley will now fight to make the Bills’ final cut as a supporting piece behind top receivers Kelvin Benjamin and Zay Jones. Meanwhile, Palepoi will look to serve as a reserve behind Star Lotulelei and Kyle Williams.