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)
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/30/18
Here are Monday’s minor moves.
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: LB Carl Bradford
- Waived: Connor Harris
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: G Dustin Stanton
Houston Texans
- Waived: TE Zach Conque
- Waived: CB Bryce Jones
- Waived: TE Ryan Malleck
- Waived: OLB Gimel President
Minnesota Vikings
- Suspended for four games (PEDs): WR Cayleb Jones
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived/Injured: CB Elie Bouka
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived/Injured: LB Jimmie Gilbert
- Waived: LB Boseko Lokombo
- Waived/NFI: DB Dexter McCoil
- Waived/Injured: LB Donavin Newsom
- Waived: CB Channing Stribling
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: DL Johnny Maxey
- Waived: RB Khalfani Muhammad
- Waived: QB Alex Tanney
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: OL Avery Young
Washington Redskins
- Released: DL Montori Hughes
- Waived: TE Chris Brazil
- Waived: DB James Sample
- Waived: LB Cassanova McKinzy
Texans Pick Up Kevin Johnson’s Option
The Texans picked up the fifth year option on cornerback Kevin Johnson, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). As a cornerback selected between No. 11 and No. 32, Johnson is slated to earn a salary of $9.069MM for the 2019 season. 
[RELATED: PFR’s Fifth-Year Option Tracker]
The option decisions on some players in the 2015 draft were simple. The Bucs did not have to deliberate over Jameis Winston‘s option and the Titans did not have to think twice about adding another year to Marcus Mariota‘s deal. The call on Johnson, however, was not so easy.
Johnson missed ten games in 2016 thanks to a broken foot and lost another four games last year thanks to an MCL sprain. Johnson had a career-high 45 total tackles last year, but he has just one interception over three NFL seasons. Last year, PFF had him ranked as the worst cornerback in the NFL out of 121 qualified players.
Obviously, the Texans still believe in the former 16th overall pick. For now, he seems unlikely to start with Kareem Jackson, Aaron Colvin, and Johnathan Joseph ahead of him on the depth chart.
Texans Re-Sign RB Alfred Blue
Alfred Blue is officially back with the Texans. Houston has re-signed the running back to a one-year deal, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets. 
The Texans will start Lamar Miller at running back, but Blue will help to provide support further down the depth chart, particularly with D’Onta Foreman recovering from a torn Achilles. As a No. 3 or No. 4 RB, Blue would offer occasional relief for both players while also pitching in on special teams.
Blue, 27, did his best work in 2015 when he rushed for 698 yards in nine starts for Houston. The addition of Miller reduced his role, however, and he was decidedly less effective last year. In 2017, Blue played on 21% of the Texans’ offensive snaps but managed only 3.7 yards per carry.
Things were pretty quiet for Blue this offseason, though he reportedly did hear from multiple teams, including the Steelers. Ultimately, the Texans circled back to him after they did not select an RB in the draft. It’s still possible that they could sign veterans or UDFAs to compete with Blue for a spot as a backup running back, however.
Texans Fire Jimmy Raye III, Other Scouting Personnel
The Texans just completed their first draft under new GM Brian Gaine, and now the team is shaking up its scouting department. Per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the team has dismissed assistant GM Jimmy Raye III, director of college scouting Jon Carr, assistant director of college scouting Mike Martin, college scouting coordinator Matt Jansen, and college scout Seth Turner.
As Wilson observes, Martin was credited for uncovering UDFA gems like Arian Foster and A.J. Bouye, but the biggest name on that list is Raye, who actually replaced Gaine in Houston last season when Gaine went to Buffalo as the Bills’ vice president of player personnel. After 17 years as a scout and executive with the Chargers, Raye served as vice president of player operations with the Colts and has been a GM candidate for several clubs (including the Texans) in recent years.
All of the dismissed personnel were hired by former GM Rick Smith, and it is not unusual for an overhaul like this when a new general manager or head coach comes aboard. However, Carr and Martin had been with the team for over a decade, and both have a solid track record.
As of yet, there is no word on any potential replacements.
Browns, Colts Lead League In Cap Space
The Browns and Colts have the most cap room of any team in the NFL heading into draft, as Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter) notes. Here’s the official rundown of every team’s cap space for 2018 on the eve of draft weekend:
- Browns – $69.5MM
- Colts – $59.8MM
- 49ers – $43.8MM
- Titans – $35.8MM
- Texans -$35.6MM
- Bears – $24.1MM
- Jets – $21.9MM
- Bills – $19.4MM
- Jaguars – $18.6MM
- Cardinals – $18.1MM
- Redskins -$17.1MM
- Bengals – $16.8MM
- Packers – $16.2MM
- Vikings – $15.5MM
- Broncos – $14.6MM
- Patriots – $13.8MM
- Buccaneers – $12.3MM
- Cowboys -$11.9MM
- Chargers – $11.4MM
- Lions – $9.4MM
- Giants -$9.4MM
- Ravens – $8.8MM
- Seahawks – $7.6MM
- Chiefs – $6.7MM
- Saints – $5.7MM
- Panthers – $5.2MM
- Dolphins – $2.9MM
- Eagles – $2.2MM
- Steelers – $2MM
- Raiders – $1.8MM
- Falcons – $1.3MM
- Rams – $264K
Whitney Mercilus Cleared To Return From Injury
Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus has been cleared to return to the field from his pectoral injury, the player tells the Houston Chronicle’s John McClain. 
The pass-rushing linebacker had missed just two games in his first five seasons before suffering a torn pectoral muscle in the fifth game of the 2017 season vs. Kansas City. The injury forced him to miss the rest of the season.
“I got cleared about a month ago and I’m ready to rock and roll,” he said. “Despite the pec, having a year of recovery on the body, I feel fresh energized. I need somewhere to put this energy, so I can’t wait to put on the pads.”
With Mercilus and J.J. Watt fully healthy to go along with Jadeveon Clowney, the Texans have the makings of one of the top pass-rushing squads in 2018. The team’s ability to get after the passer was also a big reason why safety Tyrann Mathieu decided to sign with the team in free agency.
Latest On Potential Jadeveon Clowney Extension
There has been much talk this offseason about the Texans and Jadeveon Clowney agreeing to a long-term deal before his rookie contract runs up after next season. Texans general manager Brian Gaine somewhat affirmed those reports Friday.
The Texans took Clowney with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft and he’s due to make $12 million next season as part of his fifth-year option. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reported earlier this month that the deal was still viewed as an “eventuallity,” though it’s not imminent.
Brian Gaine Not Planning In-Season Re-Ups
- On the subject of AFC South pass rushers, Brian Gaine is optimistic the Texans will extend Jadeveon Clowney this offseason. But Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports no deal is particularly close at this point. Clowney, Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack figure to see the others members of this trio’s deals affect theirs, and Von Miller may become the fourth-highest-paid defender by the time this offseason is over.
- Gaine does not plan to deviate from Rick Smith‘s philosophy of setting the offseason as the window for extension agreements. John McClane of the Houston Chronicle notes the first-year Houston GM wants to finalize re-ups before the regular season. Clowney and Benardrick McKinney‘s proceedings will put this approach to the test this year.
AFC South Rumors: Colts, Texans, Draft
Could the Colts move back yet again in the first round? Colts GM Chris Ballard won’t rule out trading the No. 6 pick.
“We will be open to moving back if we think it is the right thing for us to do and there’s enough players on the board, depending on how far we have to move back, that we feel comfortable taking,” the GM said (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).
The Colts already have extra ammo in the draft thanks to their swap with the Jets. In exchange for moving down from No. 3 to No. 6, the Colts now own three picks in the second round – their original selection at No. 36, plus picks at No. 37 and No. 49.
Here’s more from the AFC South:
- The Texans haven’t ruled out trading up in this year’s draft, but GM Brian Gaine says there are more inclined to move down (Twitter link via John McClain of the Houston Chronicle). The Texans do not have a selection until No. 68 this year and Gaine is looking to get “more at-bats,” if possible.
- The Titans made the no-brainer decision to exercise Marcus Mariota‘s fifth-year option for 2019. Mariota is slated to earn $20.922MM in ’19, though the additional year can be pulled for non-injury reasons.
- Former Jaguars wide receiver Tyler Gaffney is leaving football to try his hand at a different sport.