Raiders Release Ryan Grant
Ryan Grant‘s time in Oakland is over. The Raiders are releasing the veteran receiver, according to a tweet from Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area. In a follow-up tweet, Bair notes the team is promoting linebacker Justin Phillips from the practice squad to take his place on the roster.
It’s been a tumultuous past couple of seasons for Grant, who was originally drafted by the Redskins in the fifth-round back in 2014. He made a name for himself in Washington and was a favorite of head coach Jay Gruden, racking up 573 yards and four touchdowns in 2017. The strong season landed him a four-year, $29MM deal from the Ravens with a whopping $14.5MM in guaranteed money in free agency. The amount Baltimore gave him attracted a lot of criticism, and the next day they failed his physical and voided the deal.
Grant ended up signing a one-year, $5MM deal with the Colts, and spent last year in Indy. He didn’t play a huge role, catching 35 passes for 334 yards. He signed with Oakland this offseason, and he had nine targets in the team’s first two games. He quickly fell out of favor and was a healthy scratch this past week, so the writing was on the wall.
With promising rookie Hunter Renfrow in the slot, there wasn’t much of a need for Grant’s services anymore. Fortunately for Grant as a vested veteran his salary became guaranteed Week 1, so he’ll collect $1MM from Oakland. He should be able to latch on with a team in need of receiving help at some point. Phillips is an undrafted rookie from Oklahoma State.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/24/19
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: T John Wetzel
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Kyle Peko
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: G Kofi Amichia
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DT Destiny Vaeao
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Fred Brown
- Released from IR via injury settlement: LB Dadi Nicolas
- Waived: WR River Cracraft
Miami Dolphins
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Marcus Sherels
- Waived: LB Devante Downs
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Nate Stupar
- Waived: TE Eric Tomlinson
Oakland Raiders
- Placed on IR: LB Marquel Lee
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Craig James
- Waived: WR Greg Ward
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LS Garrison Sanborn
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Patrick O’Connor
Washington Redskins
- Released from IR via injury settlement: C Casey Dunn
- Waived: DT T.Y. McGill
NFL Workout Updates: 9/24/19
Here is the latest from the workout circuit:
Arizona Cardinals
- S Chris Banjo (Twitter link via the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson)
Atlanta Falcons
- DE Jonathan Bonner, DE Hunter Dimick (Twitter link via Howard Balzer of BalzerFootball.com)
Buffalo Bills
- WR Quincy Adeboyejo, WR Reggie Davis, WR J.J. Jones, WR Darvin Kidsy, WR J’Mon Moore (Twitter link via Wilson)
Detroit Lions
- C Russell Bodine, OL Tyler Gauthier, DL Joel Heath, DL Frank Herron, DL Zach Kerr, DL Mike Pennel (Twitter link via Wilson)
Indianapolis Colts
- S Kentrell Brice, S Deiondre’ Hall, S A.J. Hendy, S Shalom Luani, DB Lafayette Pitts (per Wilson, on Twitter)
Miami Dolphins
- WR Emanuel Hall, WR Andy Jones, WR Damoun Patterson, WR DeAndre Thompkins (per Balzer, on Twitter)
New York Jets
- DB Blake Countess (per Wilson, on Twitter)
Oakland Raiders
- LB Reshard Cliett, LB Quentin Poling, LB Tegray Scales (Twitter link via Wilson)
Seattle Seahawks
- OL Brandon Hitner (via Wilson, on Twitter)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- QB Taryn Christion, RB Quinton Flowers, DB John Franklin, WR Ishmael Hyman, WR Marcus Johnson, WR Codey McElroy, WR Jaydon Mickens, QB Phillip Walker (via Balzer, on Twitter)
Tennessee Titans
- LB Davin Bellamy, LB Tre’ Crawford, DT Lyndon Johnson, LB Ahmad Thomas, DE Kevin Wilkins, LB Trevon Young (per Balzer, on Twitter)
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/23/19
Here are today’s minor transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: P Matt Wile
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: G Bryan Witzmann
- Placed on IR: OL Brandon Greene
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Abdullah Anderson
- Waived: TE Bradley Sowell
New York Jets
- Signed off Texans practice squad: WR Vyncint Smith
- Released: QB David Fales
Oakland Raiders
- Signed off Rams practice squad: LB Dakota Allen
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LS Garrison Sanborn
- Retired: LS Jon Condo (story)
Raiders Were Eyeing Terry McLaurin
Had the Raiders not traded for Antonio Brown (or had they known he wouldn’t last the summer with them), Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes they would have “definitely” drafted a wide receiver early (subscription required). The Raiders did not take a wideout until Hunter Renfrow in Round 5, but Tafur adds they were “in love” with Ohio State’s Terry McLaurin. Washington nabbed McLaurin in Round 3, and he’s quickly risen to the role of the team’s top aerial threat. In adding Brown, Tyrell Williams, J.J. Nelson and Ryan Grant, Oakland went the veteran route to patch up its receiver needs. It seems a good bet the Raiders will look to bring more rookie help at this position in 2020.
Raiders Worked Out WR Brice Butler
Brice Butler is eyeing his next NFL gig. The free agent wideout told Jane Slater of the NFL Network that he worked out for the Raiders yesterday (Twitter link). The 29-year-old added that he’d love to return to the organization, and he’d be interested in playing alongside quarterback Derek Carr.
The Raiders selected Butler in the seventh round of the 2013 draft, and the receiver proceeded to spend his first two-plus seasons in Oakland. One of his best seasons came with the Raiders in 2014, when Butler finished with a career-high 21 receptions. The veteran later moved on to Dallas, where he spent several years as a depth piece. He actually had his best season with the Cowboys in 2017, when he hauled in 15 receptions for 317 yards and three scores.
The San Diego State product signed a two-year deal with the Cardinals during the 2018 offseason, but he was released by the team before seeing the field. He re-signed with the Cowboys but was released after a pair of appearances, and he appeared in six games for the Dolphins down the stretch. Butler was cut by Miami at the end of this past preseason.
Tyrell Williams, Ryan Grant. and JJ Nelson currently lead the Raiders depth chart, but Butler could push Hunter Renfrow, Keelan Doss, and Dwayne Harris for playing time.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/19/19
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: RB Eli McGuire
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Evan Baylis
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: OL Bryan Witzmann
Minnesota Vikings
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DE Ade Aruna
Oakland Raiders
- Waived: DB Juston Burris
Almost Every NFL Team In On Jalen Ramsey
Jalen Ramsey is on the block, and just about every NFL team is interested, as Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. Specifically, the Chiefs, Ravens, Vikings, Raiders, Eagles, and Seahawks have all made “substantive inquiries” on the Jaguars cornerback, Anderson reports.
At this point, it feels like a certainty that Ramsey will be traded. And that deal is expected to go down soon. The Jags are reportedly hoping to move Ramsey on Friday, though he’ll still suit up for Thursday night’s game against the Titans. 
In an interesting twist, the Titans also expressed interest in Ramsey, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears, though the price proved to be too high for them and some other interested teams. That, sadly, rules out a scenario like the famed 1978 76ers/Nets trade that saw Eric Money (real name) play, and score, for both teams in the same game (kidding).
In any sport, it’s dicey to put a player on the field when he’s on the verge of being traded. That’s especially true in football, but if this week’s rumblings are true, then the Jaguars will be willing to roll the dice for their national TV game against Tennessee.
After that, Ramsey will likely suit up for another club, but he won’t be eligible to play twice in the same week.
NFL Workout Updates: 9/18/19
Here is Wednesday’s latest from the workout circuit:
Cleveland Browns
- QB Joe Callahan, QB Eric Dungey, RB Keith Ford, WR Keith Mumphery, WR Damoun Patterson
Miami Dolphins
- DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun, S Kentrell Brice, S Su’a Cravens, S Deiondre’ Hall, S Doug Middleton
Oakland Raiders
- WR Emanuel Hall, DB Sean Harper, CB De’Vante Harris, LB Matthew Thomas
San Francisco 49ers
- OL Marcus Applefield, OL Jaryd Jones-Smith, OL Kyle Murphy
Raiders Acquire Trevor Davis From Packers
The Packers and Raiders agreed on a trade that will send Green Bay return man Trevor Davis to Oakland, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The fourth-year wide receiver has spent his entire career with the Packers.
The Raiders will send a 2020 sixth-round pick for Davis, with ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky relaying there do not appear to be any conditions about the pick (Twitter link).
Davis has returned both kickoffs and punts with Green Bay but has caught just nine passes. He stands to have a better opportunity to contribute as a wide receiver in Oakland.
Although there were no kick or punt returns when the Raiders and Packers met on a makeshift 80-yard field in their Winnipeg-based preseason game, Davis stood out. He caught five passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. He’ll soon join other Hard Knocks cast members. A fifth-round pick out of Cal in 2016, Davis has one career receiving touchdown and none as a return man.
The Raiders now have seven wide receivers on their roster. Considering Davis’ skill set, this may spell trouble for veteran return man Dwayne Harris‘ roster spot. As for the Packers, they recently claimed former Chiefs return man Tremon Smith, who is under contract through the 2021 season. Davis’ contract expires at season’s end.