Ravens Tried To Trade For Jamal Adams
Jamal Adams is staying with the Jets, but not for a lack of interest. Before the deadline, the Ravens tried to swing a trade for the Pro Bowl safety, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. 
[RELATED: Jets Hold On To Le’Veon Bell]
Ultimately, the two sides couldn’t come to terms. It was a similar story for the Cowboys, who also engaged in an aggressive pursuit of Adams before the bell rang.
Speaking of the Cowboys: They were willing to part with a first-round pick as part of a Minkah Fitzpatrick-type package, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter) hears. The Steelers acquired Fitzpatrick for a first-round pick and also agreed to exchange third-day draft choices. That’s what the Cowboys were looking to do, but they were not willing to venture into Jalen Ramsey territory, which means coughing up two first-round picks, plus a fourth-rounder.
The 1-6 Jets worked the phone lines in recent days with hopes of parlaying their best talent into future draft capital. Even after dealing defensive lineman Leonard Williams to the Giants, they were nowhere near satisfied: quarterback Sam Darnold and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams represented their only untouchable players, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY (on Twitter) hears.
The Jets will move forward with Adams, running back Le’Veon Bell, wide receiver Robby Anderson, and the other notable names they had at the start of business on Tuesday. Ultimately, Jets GM Joe Douglas wasn’t able to completely dismantle the team he inherited, but that ultimately might be for the best.
Tavon Young Underwent Surgery
- Ravens cornerback Tavon Young underwent neck surgery, according to coach John Harbaugh (via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic on Twitter). Young suffered a neck injury prior to the season and was placed on IR. The 25-year-old signed a three-year, $25.8MM extension with Baltimore back in February. Meanwhile, rookie cornerback Iman Marshall returned to practice on Monday.
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Ravens, Willie Snead Agree To Extension
The Ravens will sign Willie Snead to a one-year, $6MM extension, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The sum of the pact is fully-guaranteed, so it represents a solid payday for the wide receiver.
The 2014 undrafted free agent out of Ball State bounced between the Browns and Panthers before landing with the Saints. The wideout turned into one of Drew Brees‘ top targets, compiling 141 receptions, 1,879 yards, and seven touchdowns between the 2016 and 2017 seasons. However, he fell off a bit during his final season in New Orleans, and the Ravens landed Snead as a restricted free agent in 2018.
The 27-year-old was dependable during his first year in Baltimore, hauling in 62 receptions for 651 yards. In seven games this season, Snead has 15 catches for 223 yards and two touchdowns.
Snead was set to his unrestricted free agency this summer. The wideout would have joined a relatively deep free agent pool that includes the likes of Amari Cooper, A.J. Green, Emmanuel Sanders, Robby Anderson, and Nelson Agholor. As Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic tweets, this transaction could also clear up some cap space for a trade addition.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/25/19
We don’t dance now, we make minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DL Ufomba Kamalu (from Patriots practice squad)
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: DT Justin Hamilton
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: DT Bruce Hector
Trade Notes: Falcons, Bengals, Browns, Broncos, Jets, Redskins, Giants, Eagles, Bills, Packers
Teams continue to ask about Austin Hooper, whose 526 receiving yards sit 11th in the NFL entering Week 8. However, the Falcons have spurned suitors who’ve called about the emerging tight end, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. Hooper is in a contract year, but the Falcons believe they have a chance to re-sign him. The Falcons, though, are the team doing the contacting regarding Vic Beasley. Atlanta is shopping its former All-Pro defensive end, who is playing out a $12.8MM fifth-year option. Pass rushers are obviously valuable, but with Beasley’s play having fallen off since that 2016 breakthrough, the return might not be what the Falcons seek.
Here is the latest from the trade market:
- The Redskins continue to respond with hard nos when asked about Trent Williams, but Breer adds Josh Norman‘s name has been floated around. With Norman having not lived up to the $15MM-AAV contract he signed in 2016, it would be hard to imagine the Redskins getting much value for the eighth-year cornerback.
- A cornerback performing better continues to look likelier to stay put. Chris Harris does not expect to be traded, and Troy Renck of Denver7 notes the Broncos are not as motivated to deal their four-time Pro Bowler as they were to ship out Emmanuel Sanders. A second-round pick would likely be necessary here, per Breer. Considering the Broncos’ issues finding corners as of late, dealing Harris would create a massive offseason need in Denver.
- The Bengals are 0-7, and A.J. Green continues to come up in trade rumors. But the old-school organization isn’t budging. Mike Brown has not signed off on a firesale, Breer adds, instead preferring to provide first-year HC Zac Taylor with a foundation. That project is not going well so far, with the veteran-laden team performing poorly. Cincinnati’s potential trade chips also include franchise sack leaders Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap. Neither appears to be a departure candidate. Tyler Eifert is a name Breer mentions could be dealt, but the tight end obviously has a significant injury history that would limit a return.
- As for the expensive New York corners, Janoris Jenkins has generated more interest than Trumaine Johnson. The Giants have shopped Jenkins around some, per Breer, while Ralph Vacchiano of SNY notes it would require “a miracle” for a team to take Johnson’s salary off the Jets‘ payroll. Jenkins is signed through 2020, with $5.37MM remaining in 2019 salary.
- In addition to the Saints exploring receiver additions, the Bills, Eagles and Packers are as well, Breer notes. This could heat up the Robby Anderson market, but Breer adds Browns wideout Rashard Higgins has been discussed in advance of Tuesday’s deadline. The backup is in a contract year. However, Higgins has battled knee issues and has only played in one 2019 game.
- With Mark Andrews having outproduced Hayden Hurst, the Ravens have received calls on their 2018 top pick. As of now, however, Hurst is not believed to be available, per Breer.
Ravens Sign DB Jordan Richards
The Ravens secondary will look much different during the second half of the season than it did during the first. The team traded for Marcus Peters last week and got Jimmy Smith back from injury. Baltimore also released Justin Bethel on Monday.
Today, the Ravens have made another move, adding Jordan Richards to their secondary, as ProFootballTalk relays. Richards waived by the Patriots after New England picked up Bethel earlier this week.
Richards was a second-round pick by New England back in 2015. In between his two stints with the Patriots, he spent time in Oakland and Atlanta.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/22/19
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad decisions:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: Demone Harris
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Braxton Miller
Houston Texans
- Signed: DT Javier Edwards
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Sutton Smith
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DT Braxton Hoyett
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Penny Hart
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DL Jeremiah Ledbetter
- Suspended four games: DT Terry Beckner
Ravens Release Justin Bethel
On Monday, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh announced the release of cornerback Justin Bethel. He also called him “the best special teams player in the NFL.”
Bethel didn’t lose his job for performance reasons. Instead, Harbaugh admitted that the Ravens were releasing the veteran in order to potentially pick up a fourth-round compensatory pick.
It’s complicated. Or, as Harbaugh put it, it’s a “funky” rule that will give the Ravens some extra firepower in the draft after defensive lineman Brent Urban, who left the Ravens for the Titans in the offseason, was cut by Tennessee last week.
Because Urban did not last on the Titans’ roster until Week 10, the Ravens lost their shot at a fourth-round compensatory pick. By dropping Bethel, they resumed their place in the queue.
Bethel will now seek work elsewhere, after notching a team-high six tackles for Baltimore.
2019 NFL Cap Space, By Team
With eight days to go before the 2019 trade deadline, here’s a look at the cap space possessed by each team, via ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter):
1. Colts: $43.5M
2. Browns: $32.9M
3. Dolphins: $28M
4. Bills: $24.7M
5. Cowboys: $24M
6. Titans: $23.7
7. Chiefs: $23.1M
8. Raiders: $22.4M
9. Eagles: $22.2M
10. Texans: $21.6M
11. Lions: $18.9M
12. Bears: $17M
13. 49ers: $14.4M
14. Panthers: $14.2M
15. Bengals: $13.6M
16. Redskins: $13.5M
17. Jaguars: $10.3M
18. Broncos: $10M
19. Packers: $9.5M
20. Seahawks: $7.8M
21. Buccaneers: $6.5M
22. Jets: $6.1M
23. Rams: $4.6M
24. Cardinals: $4.1M
25. Chargers: $4.1M
26. Steelers: $3.4M
27. Patriots: $2.5M
28. Giants: $2.2M
29. Ravens: $2.1M
30. Saints: $1.9M
31. Falcons: $1.7M
32. Vikings: $623K
Pernell McPhee Suffers Triceps Tear
After some injury-plagued seasons, Pernell McPhee played in the Ravens’ first seven games this season. Unfortunately, the veteran outside linebacker will not participate in the rest of Baltimore’s 2019 campaign.
A triceps tear will shelve McPhee, John Harbaugh said (per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, on Twitter). McPhee re-signed with the Ravens this offseason, returning to the team with which he began his career in 2011.
McPhee battled injuries during his time with the Bears and had not operated as a full-time starter since 2015, his first Chicago campaign. However, the Ravens — after losing Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith this offseason — reinstalled him as a first-stringer. McPhee registered three sacks in seven Ravens games.
The 30-year-old defender signed a one-year deal, so this will be a blow for his 2020 offseason stock. Matt Judon leads the Ravens’ pass rush, but McPhee had played 260 snaps — second-most on the team. This setback will likely mean more work for third-round rookie Jaylon Ferguson, with Tyus Bowser likely also being called upon to pick up the slack.