Waiver Wire Priority For All 32 NFL Teams
Yesterday was the 53-man roster deadline, but the madness will continue today as teams pick through the waiver pile for talented discards. Priority is dictated by the reverse standings with tiebreakers where necessary, which is to say that it will be the same as the 2016 draft order before all the trades. Unlike your fantasy league’s waiver wire, a team does not go to the back of the list upon making a successful claim. That means that the league’s worst teams from 2015 have a significant advantage today as they make late roster additions.
Here is the complete waiver priority order:
1. Titans
2. Browns
3. Chargers
4. Cowboys
5. Jaguars
6. Ravens
7. 49ers
8. Dolphins
9. Buccaneers
10. Giants
11. Bears
12. Saints
13. Eagles
14. Raiders
15. Rams
16. Lions
17. Falcons
18. Colts
19. Bills
20. Jets
21. Redskins
22. Texans
23. Vikings
24. Bengals
25. Seahawks
26. Packers
27. Steelers
28. Chiefs
29. Patriots
30. Cardinals
31. Panthers
32. Broncos
Ravens Could Re-Sign Justin Forsett
The Ravens could soon re-sign running back Justin Forsett, according to Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link), who expects the transaction to happen “sooner rather than later.” Forsett, 30, was released earlier today, and the Ravens $3MM by doing cutting ties. But if the club can get him back at a reduced rate, it sounds like a reunion might be in the best interests of both parties.
Ravens Get Roster To 53
The Ravens have announced the moves that take their roster to 53:
- CB/S Julian Wilson (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun)
- DE Victor Ochi (Twitter link via Brown)
- DL Kapron Lewis-Moore (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun)
- OT Blaine Clausell (Twitter link via Zrebiec)
- WR Jeremy Butler (Twitter link via ProFootballTalk)
- WR Michael Campanaro (Twitter link via Zrebiec)
- TE Daniel Brown (Twitter link via Zrebiec)
- S Terrence Brooks (Twitter link via Rand Getlin)
- RB Justin Forsett (story)
- QB Josh Johnson
- OG Vladimir Ducasse
- LB Arthur Brown
- S Terrence Brooks
- LB Brennen Beyer
- RB Stephen Houston
- LB Patrick Onwausor
- WR Keenan Reynolds (story)
- C Matt Skura
Placed On IR:
- WR Michael Campanaro
- WR Chris Matthews
- OT De’Ondre Wesley
- DB Carrington Byndom (waived/injured)
Lewis-Moore, the Ravens’ sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame in 2013, had a tough beginning to his professional career, landing on IR in each of his first two seasons with the club. He finally made cracked the 53-man roster last year, appearing in five games for the Ravens. Baltimore has always liked his upside as a pass rusher, but he found himself squeezed out of a deep defensive line group this season.
Cutting Brooks was a bit of a surprise, as the former third-rounder was playing well early in the preseason. There was some optimism that Brooks would be able to leapfrog former first-rounder Matt Elam on the depth chart, but the 25-year-old was unable to carve out a role during his two years (plus preseason) on the team.
Zach Links contributed to this post
Ravens Release Justin Forsett
The Ravens have released running back Justin Forsett, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
With rookie Kenneth Dixon nursing a knee injury, Baltimore looks set to count on Terrance West and Javorius Allen at running back. Forsett, 30, was a revelation in 2014, rushing for more 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns though he had been considered a career backup/special teamer. Injuries cost Forsett last season, as he only managed to play in 10 games.
The Ravens are clearing $3MM off their books by releasing Forsett, but will incur $700K in dead money.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Ravens To Waive Keenan Reynolds
The Ravens are going to waive rookie receiver Keenan Reynolds, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Baltimore telegraphed the move by working out receiver/returner Devin Hester earlier Friday, Rapoport notes.
Reynolds, an ex-Navy standout, went in the sixth round of this year’s draft after a standout career as a dual-threat college quarterback. Reynolds is obligated to serve in the military as per his agreement with the Naval Academy, but Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter gave him special clearance after the draft to defer his service. However, Reynolds was unable to do enough in Baltimore to land a roster spot.
Ravens Work Out Devin Hester
The Ravens worked out veteran wide receiver/return man Devin Hester today, reports Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Hester has been on the open market since July when he was released by the Falcons, but is now almost back to full health.
Baltimore has decent depth at wide receiver, with Steve Smith, Kamar Aiken, Mike Wallace, Chris Moore, and Jeremy Butler representing the club’s top options, so Hester would likely act strictly as a returner if signed. With Kaelin Clay — the Ravens’ primary return man in 2015 — on injured reserve, Hester would compete with Butler and Michael Campanaro for duty on special teams.
Hester joined the Falcons prior to the 2014 season and enjoyed his fourth Pro Bowl berth – his first since 2010. Hester returned 45 kicks for 1,128 yards and 18 punts for 240 yards, showing that he was still dangerous in the return game. It remains to be seen whether Hester will continue his NFL journey and build on his NFL record in return touchdowns (20) and punt return touchdowns (14).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Ravens Trim Roster To 75
The Ravens have announced four roster moves, and have trimmed their roster to the 75-player maximum. As such, Baltimore is done with transactions until this weekend, when all clubs must move to 53 men.
Placed on PUP:
Placed on IR:
Waived:
- K Wil Lutz
Taliaferro will miss the first six weeks of the season, but can then be activated to the Ravens’ active roster. Kaufusi was Baltimore’s third-round pick this year.
Ravens Place Watson, Arrington On IR
The Ravens took a big step towards getting their roster down to 75 today. The Ravens announced that they have placed veteran tight end Ben Watson and cornerback Kyle Arrington on injured reserve. Meanwhile, the team has also waived eight other players and cut one.
Both Watson and Arrington suffered their season-ending injuries during preseason. In the Ravens’ preseason opener against the Panthers, Arrington suffered a concussion that he has yet to recover from. Watson, meanwhile, tore his Achilles on Saturday night against the Lions.
The Ravens cut linebacker Kavell Conner and he’ll immediately hit the free agent market as a vested veteran. Meanwhile, the following eight players have been waived:
- G Jarell Broxton
- DT Trevon Coley
- WR Dobson Collins
- C Anthony Fabiano
- WR Chuck Jacobs
- QB Jerrod Johnson
- LB Mario Ojemudia
- WR Darius White
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Kenneth Dixon Out Four Weeks
Ravens rookie Kenneth Dixon is expected to miss four weeks with an MCL tear, but the running back won’t require surgery, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Dixon, a fourth-round pick out of Louisiana Tech, wasn’t going to play a large role on offense (at least early in the season), but this injury means it will take him even longer to ingrain himself into Baltimore’s offense behind Justin Forsett, Javorius Allen, Terrance West, and Lorenzo Taliaferro.
Ben Watson Tears Achilles
After a revitalizing season that earned him a two-year commitment from the Ravens, Ben Watson now faces an uncertain future. The 35-year-old tight end tore his Achilles’ tendon on Saturday night, and the Ravens announced (on Twitter) he will be out for the remainder of the sea
son.
Watson suffered the injury on the first play of the Ravens’ preseason game against the Lions, doing so in a game that featured Terrell Suggs and Joe Flacco make their 2016 debuts for Baltimore.
Watson signed a two-year, $7MM deal with the Ravens in March, with $3MM in full guarantees. He’s set to earn $4MM this season. Watson will turn 36 in December and will now be facing the prospect of potentially making a comeback for a 14th season in 2017 on the heels of one of toughest injuries from which to recover.
A former Patriots, Browns and Saints starter, Watson enjoyed his finest statistical season at age 34 last season, catching 74 passes for 825 yards and eight touchdowns — all career highs — and added to the Ravens’ deep, yet muddled tight end corps.
Baltimore still has 2015 second-rounder Maxx Williams, along with 2014 third-rounder Crockett Gillmore. Dennis Pitta remains the Ravens’ highest-paid tight end, but while he was finally cleared to return after the career-threatening hip injury, the 31-year-old is out due to a broken finger sustained in a training camp fight. Pitta
played just seven games in the past three seasons.
So, the Ravens might have the depth to withstand this. But their 2016 passing game — which will attempt to pick up the pieces after the team lost most of its starting skill-position talent in 2015 — will absorb a hit as a result of Watson’s absence.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.