Minor NFL Transactions: 4/30/19
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Marcus Baugh (AAF), TE Cole Hunt (AAF)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Claimed off waivers from 49ers: LB James Onwualu
New York Giants
- Waived: T Jylan Ware
Oakland Raiders
- Waived: RB James Butler, LB Cayson Collins, WR Rashard Davis, G/C Cameron Hunt, WR De’Mornay Pierson-El
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed off waivers from 49ers: S Godwin Igwebuike
Washington Redskins
- Waived: DB Alex Carter, G Kyle Fuller, T Darius James, WR Tre McBride, DB Harlan Miller, OL Salesi Uhatafe
Raiders' First Choice Was Round 1 Trade
- The Raiders hoped to trade down from their No. 4 slot, but no calls came, Peter King of NBC Sports notes. Just about every high-end prospect was connected to the Raiders during the pre-draft process, but the team instead went with what most perceived as a bit of a reach in Clelin Ferrell. However, taking the Clemson talent at No. 4 was the team’s backup plan.
Raiders Defend Ferrell Pick
- The Raiders provided the draft’s other major first round surprise when they tapped Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell at No. 4 overall. Many feel that the Raiders reached for the defensive end, but that’s not how defensive coordinator Paul Guenther sees it. “It wasn’t about his 40-time or his three-cone drill or any of that [BS], it was about the whole package,” the DC said (via The Athletic). “There just aren’t a lot of guys like this. Some guys are great standing up, but you have to get down and dirty in the NFL. They are not just going to let you run up the field all day, you know what I am saying? Then you hear him talk and you’re like, ‘Damn, this guy is a pro.’”
- Over the weekend, longtime Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski announced his retirement from the NFL.
Sebastian Janikowski Announces Retirement
Longtime NFL kicker Sebastian Janikowski has announced his retirement after 19 seasons, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Janikowski, 41, was selected 17th overall by the Raiders in the 2000 draft and spent the subsequent 18 campaigns in Oakland. Only one other kicker (Steve Little in 1978) has ever been chosen in the first round of the draft, and only three kickers have been selected in the first three rounds since Janinkowski went in the first (Nate Kaeding, Mike Nugent, Roberto Aguayo).
Clearly, it would have been difficult for any kicker to live up to Janikowski’s draft billing, but he did accrue statistics simply by being available. He’ll finish his career with the ninth-most field goal attempts (563) in league history, although his conversion rate (80.4%) ranks just 37th. Pro Football Reference’s approximate value metric, which attempts to boil down a player’s contributions to a single number, ranks Janikowski as the 13th-most valuable kicker in NFL history.
A Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro member in 2011, Janikowski left the Raiders in 2018, signing a contract with the Seahwaks after spending the previous season on injured reserve. He made 22-of-27 attempts for Seattle, and his 81.5% conversion rate ranked just 23rd among all kickers. Janikowski wasn’t expected to be re-signed by the Seahawks, who have since added free agent Jason Myers.
Janikowksi will hang up his cleats as the NFL’s all-time highest-paid kicker with more than $53MM in career earnings. PFR extends its best wishes to “Seabass” as he enters retirement.
Raiders Acquire No. 149 From Cowboys
The Raiders made the decision to make a slight move up in Round 5, and the Cowboys will receive an additional seventh-round pick in this deal.
In moving up to No. 149 from No. 158, the Raiders dealt No. 218 to the Cowboys. Clemson wide receiver Hunter Renfrow became Oakland’s eighth pick in this draft.
Largely a slot contributor to both of Clemson’s recent national championship teams, Renfrow finished his career as a four-year cog in the Tigers’ offense. He totaled 186 receptions for 2,133 yards and 15 touchdowns in college, including a rather notable game-winning reception from Deshaun Watson as a sophomore. He will join a Raiders team that has overhauled its receiver group.
Renfrow will attempt to carve out a role on the Raiders. He joins Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, J.J. Nelson and Ryan Grant among the new talent coming to work with Derek Carr.
Raiders Trade No. 135 To Falcons
The Falcons are moving up two spots. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that Atlanta has acquired No. 135 from the Raiders. Atlanta will send Oakland No. 137 and No. 230.
The Falcons will use the pick on Charlestown defensive end John Cominsky. NFL.com projects the prospect to be a rotational/backup lineman and a special teamer. The rookie could see an opportunity to contribute on the defensive line, as the Falcons are currently rostering only three backup defensive ends (Adrian Clayborn, Steven Means, and Jacob Tuioti-Mariner).
Raiders Trade No. 109 To Colts
The Colts have moved up 20 spots. ESPN’s Field Yates tweets that Indy has acquired No. 109 from the Raiders. Oakland will receive No. 129 and No. 135.
The Colts have used their pick on Michigan State safety Khari Willis. The rookie is considered a box safety, meaning he’ll likely be tasked to cover tight ends in the middle of the field. Of course, the Colts clearly have high hopes for the safety, emphasized by them moving up 20 spots in the fourth round.
The Colts have added a pair of safeties this offseason in Derrick Kindred and Isaiah Johnson. Those two additions, Willis, and a host of other safeties (including George Odum, Rolan Milligan, and Matthias Farley) will compete for snaps behind Malik Hooker and Clayton Geathers.
Raiders Trade No. 38 Pick To Bills
Rookie Raiders GM Mike Mayock moved down again, this time agreeing to a second-round trade with the Bills.
Buffalo moved into Oakland’s No. 38 slot, coming up from No. 40. The Raiders will acquire a fifth-round pick (No. 158) in the deal. The Bills used the move up to select Oklahoma offensive lineman Cody Ford. This comes shortly after the Raiders dealt their No. 35 overall pick to the Jaguars.
This continues a massive offensive line overhaul in Buffalo. The Bills’ 2019 offensive line group will feature almost an entirely new cast. Mitch Morse, Ty Nsekhe, Spencer Long and LaAdrian Waddle.
The Bills still have Dion Dawkins, 2018 fifth-rounder Wyatt Teller on the roster and Russell Bodine on the roster, but their group will look quite different next season. Profiling as perhaps a tackle or guard, Ford — a 2018 first-team All-Big 12 selection at Oklahoma — joins what’s become an all-out makeover.
Raiders Trade No. 35 Pick To Jaguars
The Jaguars made the first trade of Friday night, moving up into the No. 35 overall slot. The Raiders, as GM Mike Mayock said they were considering, traded out of the slot.
Oakland will receive the No. 38 overall pick and No. 109 (a fourth-rounder). Jacksonville selected tackle Jawaan Taylor. The Jags will acquire fifth- and seventh-round picks (Nos. 140 and 235) in this deal.
Taylor was mocked by some to the Jaguars in the first round, so while the Florida blocker endured a bit of a tumble, the team adding a first-round-caliber lineman — in the view of some — in Round 2 represents solid value.
The Jags cut right tackle Jermey Parnell this offseason; left tackle Cam Robinson is coming off a season-ending ACL tear. While Jacksonville added Cedric Ogbuehi and Leonard Wester, Taylor should be considered a strong candidate to be an early-season starter.
Raiders Now Eyeing Nick Bosa?
- Linked to just about every other key player atop this draft, the Raiders are now connected to Bosa. They may be interested in moving up to select the Ohio State-honed pass rusher, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com notes (via Rotoworld’s Evan Silva, on Twitter). With the 49ers expected to take Bosa at No. 2 overall, the Raiders would seemingly have to trade into the Cards’ No. 1 spot to pull this off.