Minor NFL Transactions: 5/1/18
Todays minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: LS Drew Williams, CB Jarell Carter, CB C.J. Goodwin, RB Darius Victor
- Waived/injured: LB Gabe Martin
Baltimore Ravens
- Claimed off waivers: DB Kai Nacua (from Browns)
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: OT Korren Kirven
- Waived: TE Kent Taylor
Houston Texans
- Waived : OL Jake Rodgers
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: TE Anthony Firkser, CB Sheldon Price, DT Mike Purcell
Oakland Raiders
- Suspended for four games: OL Vadal Alexander (PEDs)
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers: OLB Gimel President (from Texans)
Bengals Sign Moritz Böhringer
The impressive athleticism of German wide receiver Moritz Böhringer compelled the Vikings to take a flier on him in the sixth round of the 2016 draft. This year, the Bengals will take an up close look at him as a part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, the league announced. 
Böhringer is the only European player in NFL history to be selected in the draft without playing any college football. His lack of experience probably put a cap on his pro prospects as he spent his rookie year on Minnesota’s practice squad and did not sign with another team after his release in September. He’s still pursuing his pro dreams, however, and he’s slated to enter the year as the eleventh player on the Bengals’ practice squad.
The league’s International Player Pathway program will allow each AFC North team to carry an extra overseas player on their practice squad in 2018. Unlike those on the traditional ten-man practice squad, the additional player cannot be activated during the season. Last year, the NFC South had the honors.
The Ravens will have German Football League linebacker Christopher Ezeala, the Browns will practice with former British American Football League defensive back/wide receiver Tigie Sankoh, and the Steelers will have former English professional rugby tight end Christian Scotland-Williamson.
Jackson Struggled In Combine Meetings
- Lamar Jackson‘s pre-draft process did not go smoothly, with CBS Sports’ Joel Corry reporting teams had trouble scheduling workouts and meetings with him. The quarterback also experienced difficulties breaking down plays on teams’ whiteboards at the Combine. Corry notes Jackson’s decision to not hire an agent could have cost him some money on his rookie contract, with the Ravens being able to get him at No. 32 after a contingent in their draft room lobbied for him at 16.
Latest On Ravens, Lamar Jackson
- Although the Ravens ultimately selected Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson with the final pick of the first round, there was a “movement” within the club’s draft room to take Jackson with their original No. 16 selection, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Instead, Baltimore ended up trading back twice — once to No. 22, and again to No. 25 — before drafting South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst. To move back up, the Ravens sacrificed two second-round picks (one in 2019), but getting back into the first round will give the team a fifth-year option on Jackson. Baltimore has a plan as to how it will develop and utilize Jackson behind starter Joe Flacco, per Jim Trotter of NFL.com.
Ravens Send No. 152 Pick To Titans
The Titans chose to move up a bit in the fifth round, climbing from No. 162 to No. 152. They’ll send the Ravens that No. 162 choice as well as the No. 215 selection (Round 6), per Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Now under the direction of new coach Mike Vrabel, the Titans have made three moves up in this draft — most notably to land high-end defenders Rashaan Evans and Harold Landry with their first- and second-round picks.
This time, Tennessee selected Arizona cornerback Dane Cruikshank. The 6-foot-1 corner intercepted five passes over the past two seasons for the Wildcats. He’s only the third draft choice the Titans have made this year. Because of this deal, Tennessee only owns one more draft choice (No. 199).
Chiefs Move Into Ravens’ No. 75 Position
Shortly after trading out of the No. 65 draft slot, the Ravens are moving down again. The Chiefs will now pick at No. 75, and they’ll supply the Ravens with an additional fourth-round selection to do so.
Kansas City will send the No. 86 and No. 122 picks to Baltimore, per Jeff Zreibec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), and will use the pick on Derrick Nnadi — a defensive lineman from Florida State.
This marks the second time the Chiefs have traded up tonight and the second time they’ve used a pick on a college defensive lineman, although they’ve said Breeland Speaks will start out at outside linebacker in their 3-4 set.
Whereas Speaks will play on the outside in K.C., Nnadi figures to help inside. The Chiefs lost Bennie Logan in free agency and don’t have an obvious successor at nose. The 312-pound Nnadi registered 9.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss while playing inside for the Seminoles the past two seasons.
Raiders Acquire Ravens’ No. 65 Pick
The Raiders are moving to the top of the third round and will use multiple picks to make that jump, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal tweets.
Oakland acquired the No. 65 choice from the Ravens and will send Nos. 75, 152 and 212 to Baltimore. The Raiders used the pick to draft another offensive lineman, North Carolina A&T’s Brandon Parker.
The 6-foot-7 Parker will follow the 6-9 Kolton Miller to the Bay Area as offensive line reinforcements. The Silver and Black are in need of right tackle help and have Donald Penn entering his age-35 season on the left edge. Each of Oakland’s three 2018 picks so far have come on the lines, with second-round defensive lineman P.J. Hall joining the blockers as the newest Raiders.
Draft Notes: Penny, Chiefs, Jets, Jackson
Excepting the Eli Manning-for-Philip Rivers exchange, NFL draft trades rarely unfold like NBA draft-night swaps, with teams making picks and then sending players elsewhere. But the Seahawks indicated such an offer emerged on Thursday night. After they’d made their somewhat surprising Rashaad Penny selection at No. 27, John Schneider said (via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times) another team called them to try and acquire the running back. Schneider said that was the first time he’d seen such an offer as an NFL executive. Schneider said he would have authorized a Penny pick at No. 18, which would have been even more interesting since the San Diego State product was viewed as a fringe first-round prospect going into the night, and the Seahawks obviously held onto their new rookie after the surely strange phone call.
Here’s more from the draft world going into Night 2.
- Despite talk connecting the Jets to Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, and (to a lesser extent) Josh Rosen before the draft, Sam Darnold was the top quarterback on their board, Manish Mehta of the Daily News tweets. The Jets did not expect Darnold to be on the board at No. 3, hence the franchise’s late maneuvering to secure more face time with its top QB prospect.
- The Chiefs made two blockbuster trades this offseason, and the team unloading Marcus Peters for second- and fourth-round draft choices deprives Kansas City of what was probably a top-three player on its roster. The now-Brett Veach-run franchise had discussions of moving up from No. 54 and all the way into the first round, and they’ve been reportedly considering a trade-up sequence in Round 2. Albert Breer of SI.com reports the Chiefs discussed moving into the Eagles‘ No. 32 spot last night before the Ravens did so and that a move north tonight will be with a cornerback acquisition in mind. The Chiefs traded for Kendall Fuller and signed David Amerson, but their defense — the No. 30 DVOA unit with Peters — still has a need at this spot.
- Some evaluators think that Lamar Jackson‘s best position in the NFL would be at wide receiver, but don’t tell that to Ravens offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. When asked about his plans for the Louisville product, he said, “[Jackson] is a quarterback. Done.” (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). He also emphasized that Joe Flacco will remain the team’s starter.
Ravens Acquire No. 32 From Eagles
Baltimore’s wrapped up a busy evening with another trade. Sam Farmer of the LA Times reports (via Twitter) that the team has acquired the No. 32 pick from the Eagles. Baltimore has acquired the first-rounder and No. 132 (fourth round), and they’ll be sending No. 52 (second round), No. 125 (fourth round), and a 2019 second-rounder to Philly.
The Ravens have used the pick to select quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Louisville product and former Heisman winner is the fifth quarterback taken during the first round. He had another productive season in 2017, completing 59.1-percent of his passes for 3,660 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He also added another 1,601 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on 232 carries. Barring some unexpected transaction, Jackson will likely serve as a backup to Joe Flacco for at least the upcoming season.
This is the third trade of the night for Baltimore, who also completed deals with the Bills and Titans. Reports had indicated that the organization was eyeing offensive linemen like Mike McGlinchey and Kolton Miller, although there were whispers that the organization could pursue a future starting quarterback.
Titans Acquire No. 22 From Ravens
The Ravens are moving down… again. After trading down to the No. 22 pick earlier tonight, Baltimore is once again dealing their first-rounder. The Ravens are sending that No. 22 pick to the Titans, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Tennessee will also receive No. 215 (sixth round), while Baltimore will get No. 25 and No. 125 (fourth round), via ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter).
The Titans are using the pick on linebacker Rashaan Evans. The Alabama product is one of the top defensive prospects in the draft, as Daniel Jeremiah listed him 20th overall in his top-50 rankings. Evans had a breakout campaign as a senior, compiling 74 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and six sacks. Derrick Morgan, Wesley Woodyard, Jayon Brown, and Brian Orakpo are currently listed as the team’s starting linebackers, but Evans could work his way into the lineup.
After starting the night with the No. 16 pick, the Ravens sent the selection to Buffalo, acquiring picks No. 22 and No. 65. This recent trade will give the organization 10 picks for the entire weekend