Jaguars, Ravens Complete Trade
The Jaguars have traded center Luke Bowanko to the Ravens, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s not immediately known what the Jaguars are getting in the swap, but it’s likely a late round draft pick.
Bowanko has an opportunity to get playing time right off the bat given the injuries on the Ravens’ offensive line. Baltimore brought Jeremy Zuttah back into the fold in August to fill the gap at center, but he was released on Friday along with a host of other notable veterans.
Bowanko, a sixth round pick in the 2016 draft, has spent time on the Jaguars’ 53-man roster and practice squad over the last three years. In December, he was called back up to the 53-man roster when Julius Thomas and Jared Odrick were placed on injured reserve.
Bowanko is the second offensive lineman to come to the Ravens via trade this week. On Friday, Baltimore acquired veteran interior lineman Tony Bergstrom from the Cardinals.
Dolphins, T.J. McDonald Agree To Extension
The Dolphins and safety T.J. McDonald have agreed to a four-year, $24MM extension, as James Walker of ESPN.com tweets. The deal includes $10MM in guaranteed money. 
The Dolphins won’t get to see McDonald in live action for a while thanks to his eight-game suspension, but they have been floored by his performance thus far in the summer. He originally came to Miami on a low-risk, one-year deal, but the Fins have seen enough to warrant giving him a multi-year deal at a starter’s salary.
McDonald was a longtime starter for the Rams, but L.A. showed little interest in retaining him. His suspension didn’t come down until the end of March, but it seems that the Rams had some sense of the punishment that was coming his way for the DUI arrest and drug charges.
In 2016, McDonald had 62 total tackles, two interceptions, one sack, and six passes defensed. He graded out as as Pro Football Focus’ 58th best safety in the NFL last season. The Fins clearly disagree with the advanced metrics and see him as a much stronger player.
When McDonald is in uniform, the Dolphins will have a strong safety combo between him and Reshad Jones. In the interim, Jones will be paired with Nate Allen.
Redskins Could Cut TE Derek Carrier
One way or another, Derek Carrier‘s time with the Redskins is drawing to a close today. If the Redskins cannot find a trade for him by this afternoon’s roster deadline they’ll release him outright, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
Carrier has been slowed by injuries ever since coming to the Redskins in 2015. He suffered a torn ACL during the 2015 season and his recovery extended into 2016. He has appeared in 20 games for Washington, but he has only 19 receptions to his name during that time.
If a team trades for Carrier, they’ll be taking on a $1MM cap charge for 2017. A trade doesn’t seem terribly likely, but two teams are at least discussing a swap with Washington today.
Extra Points: Steelers, Bell, Bears
Here’s a quick look around the NFL:
- Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell passed his physical yesterday after showing up at the team’s facility, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. He did not sign his franchise tag yet, but he will, Rapoport adds. Bell’s Steelers open up the season in Cleveland on Sept. 10.
- The Bears were the only team to put in a waiver claim on kicker Roberto Aguayo after the Bucs cut him earlier this month, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. They’re now likely going to be stuck paying his $428K guarantee after releasing him on Saturday.
- The Redskins are still trying to trade Derek Carrier and two teams are currently in on him, Mike Jones of The Washington Post (on Twitter) hears. It’s still unclear how likely a deal is, however. Carrier has been traded before – he came to Washington via a swap with San Francisco in 2015.
- The Cardinals will pursue punter Andy Lee now that he is a free agent, Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic tweets. This makes sense considering that the Cardinals considered trading for him this week prior to his release.
- The Packers are looking for help at offensive guard, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle hears (Twitter link). Green Bay will start Lane Taylor and Jahri Evans at the two guard spots.
Texans Release QB Brandon Weeden
The Texans have cut veteran backup Brandon Weeden, according to a source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). The Texans were expected to carry three QBs on the roster, so this comes as a bit of a surprise. 
Tom Savage will serve as the Texans’ starter while first-round pick Deshaun Watson will be his understudy. Of course, the pecking order could change quickly if Savage struggles.
Weeden was set to enter the second year of the two-year, $4MM deal he inked in April 2016. The 6’4″ signal caller has not seen the field since 2015 when he appeared in four games for the Cowboys and two for the Texans. The 33-year-old (34 in October) has a career 6-19 record.
Giants To Release QB Josh Johnson
The Giants are releasing quarterback Josh Johnson, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This ostensibly means that Geno Smith has won the backup job.
The news comes as a bit of a surprise since the word this summer was that Johnson would likely prevail over Smith. Johnson, 31, is out after re-signing with the Giants on a two-year deal in March, but this is familiar territory for him. After spending the first three years of his career with the Bucs, Johnson has had stints with the Ravens, Browns, Bengals, 49ers, Colts, Bills, Jets, and Giants – all since 2012. The last time he took the field was in 2013 with Cincinnati.
Smith, a former second-round pick of the Jets, has had a bizarre career to date with little to cheer about. The 26-year-old (27 in October) has a career 57.9% completion percentage and a touchdown-to-interception ration of 28:36. The Giants are hoping that he can be a suitable emergency option in the event of an Eli Manning injury, however.
Third-round pick Davis Webb is slated to open the season as the Giants’ third-string quarterback.
Panthers Cut QBs Joe Webb, Garrett Gilbert
Cam Newton is back to full health and the Panthers are back to two quarterbacks. The team has released Joe Webb and waived Garrett Gilbert, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
Webb, 30, has always been an intriguing talent because of his ability to play both quarterback and wide receiver. Webb vacillated between the two positions during his time with the Vikings and although he intended to make the full-time switch to wide receiver/special teams, he wound up being listed as the Panthers’ third-string QB upon joining them in 2014. He re-upped with Carolina on a two-year deal last spring, but he is being let out of the commitment early.
Gilbert, a former sixth-round pick, has spent time with the Rams, Patriots, Lions, Raiders, and Panthers, but has yet to take a real NFL snap. On the plus side, he has a Super Bowl ring thanks to his time on the Patriots’ practice squad in 2014-15.
Panthers Cut P Andy Lee
The Panthers have cut punter Andy Lee, Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer tweets. That means they’ll be keeping Michael Palardy as their punter for the coming season. 
The Panthers tried to orchestrate a trade for Lee this week, but it was to no avail. This time last year, the Panthers gave up a fourth-round choice to acquire him from the Browns. When he was dangled, the Cardinals expressed some level of interest, but it sounds like the Panthers could not extract anything of value from them. The Cardinals seem like a prime candidate to sign the veteran now that he’s a free agent.
The Panthers already paid $1MM to Lee in March and they’re still on the hook for his $1MM fully guaranteed base salary, so the punter will be on the books for $2MM in all, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. It’s not a good look for Carolina, but the “new” regime did not want to saddle themselves with Dave Gettleman‘s mistake.
Lee, 35, had a perfect attendance record in the regular season through ten seasons before a hamstring injury sidelined him in 2016. For his career, he has three Pro Bowl nods and three first-team All-Pro selections.
NFL Suspends Saints WR Willie Snead
The NFL has suspended Willie Snead for the first three games of the season, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Snead’s ban is for a personal conduct violation that stemmed from an off-season DUI, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. He was booked by police in Kenner. La., on June 11 after he struck another vehicle and registered a blood alcohol content level of .125, per Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com (on Twitter). Snead was initially suspended for four games, but he had it reduced to three games following a successful (and quiet) appeal. 
The suspension is a big blow for the Saints as Snead was being counted on as one of Drew Brees‘ top targets to open the season. The team will have to lean more on supporting receivers Ted Ginn and Brandon Coleman as well as tight end Coby Fleener until they get Snead back in October. Of course, the Saints no longer have the services of Brandin Cooks after trading him to New England earlier this year.
Snead and the Saints were said to be working on a long-term deal this summer, but he wound up signing his exclusive rights free agent tender in July instead. The DUI may or may not have had something to do with the talks breaking down.
Snead, a former undrafted free agent out of Ball State, has established himself as one of Drew Brees‘ top targets over the past two seasons. Between the last two campaigns, the 24-year-old has appeared in 30 games (12 starts) and compiled 141 receptions for 1,879 yards and seven touchdowns.
Eagles Cut QB Matt McGloin
The Eagles lost some moxy on Friday. Quarterback Matt McGloin has been let go, as Matt Lombardo of NJ.com tweets.
McGloin‘s one-year deal with the Eagles was worth just $800K, but he didn’t have a place on the roster with Carson Wentz and Nick Foles ahead of him. The quarterback’s deal included no guaranteed money, so he won’t linger on the cap.
Last year, the Eagles kept 2 QBs on the roster with one on the practice squad. That could be the game plan once again this year.