Minor NFL Transactions: 5/3/18
Here are Thursday’s minor moves.
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: DB Robertson Daniel
Kansas City Chiefs
- Released: TE Orson Charles
- Waived: DT Josh Augusta
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Orion Stewart
Raiders Meet With Derrick Johnson
Former Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson will visit with the Raiders on Thursday, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Chiefs announced in February that they will not re-sign Johnson, though they have a standing offer to him to join the coaching staff if he does not play in 2018. 
After 13 seasons with the Chiefs, it will take some getting used to if Johnson winds up in silver and black. Johnson, 35, is the Chiefs’ all-time leading tackler, with 1,262 career stops to his credit. Since entering the league as a first round pick in 2005, Johnson has suited up in 182 games for Kansas City with 169 starts.
Johnson is obviously past his prime, but Raiders coach Jon Gruden has shown an affinity for signing experienced veterans. The linebacker, who has four Pro Bowl nods and a First-Team All-Pro selection on his resume, still performed reasonably well in 2017 as he ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 33 linebacker in the NFL. Johnson doesn’t necessarily profile as a starter, but he could be a valuable depth piece who can also mentor younger defensive players.
The Raiders project to start Bruce Irvin, Tahir Whitehead, and Cory James at linebacker in their 4-3 scheme.
Browns Trade TE Randall Telfer To Chiefs For LB Dadi Nicolas
The Browns are trading tight end Randall Telfer to the Chiefs for linebacker Dadi Nicolas, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The Browns were said to be shopping Telfer in recent days. 
The Browns are well set at tight end with holdovers David Njoku, Seth DeValve, and free agent addition Darren Fells, so Telfer became expendable this offseason. The 2016 sixth-round pick started in 14 games for the Browns last season, but he caught just three passes for 36 yards and finished a distant third amongst Cleveland TEs in catches. The new regime didn’t see a place on the roster for Telfer, which is understandable since he is a blocking specialist and Fells is viewed as a better one.
Nicolas, 26 in September, appeared in eleven games for the Chiefs in 2016. Unfortunately, a ruptured patellar tendon suffered in January of last year cost him his entire 2017 season.
Chiefs To Decline Cameron Erving’s Option
The Chiefs will decline Cameron Erving‘s fifth-year option, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter). This means that Erving is entering his contract year and will be on track for unrestricted free agency in 2019. 
[RELATED: 2019 Fifth-Year Option Tracker]
This doesn’t come as a huge shock as Erving is not likely to start for the Chiefs in 2018. Erving can theoretically play anywhere on the offensive line, but Kansas City projects to start Eric Fisher, Bryan Witzmann, Mitch Morse, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, and Mitchell Schwartz up front, as shown on Roster Resource.
The Browns selected Erving with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2015 draft, but he turned out to be yet another high-profile draft bust for Cleveland. Last August, the Browns bailed on the Florida State product and shipped him to the Chiefs for a fifth-round pick.
Erving started in 13 games at center for the Browns in 2016, but Pro Football Focus ranked him among the game’s worst centers. Last year, Erving started just four times for KC and saw just 276 snaps in total.
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)
Chiefs Hire Eagles Assistant Scouting Director
- The Chiefs hired Eagles assistant director of college scouting Michael Bradway to an undisclosed position, Geoff Mosher of 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia tweets. Mosher notes Bradway, who was with the Eagles for seven seasons, joins back up with Chiefs general manager Brett Veach, who also spent time in Philadelphia.
AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders
Despite visiting with each of this draft’s top four quarterbacks and being consistently rumored to have a couple of them on their radar, the Broncos did not select one throughout the draft. And they aren’t planning on bringing another one in before training camp. John Elway said Paxton Lynch and Chad Kelly will compete for the backup job behind Case Keenum, per Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. This is an interesting approach considering both players are coming off injury-marred years. Lynch will be the only active-roster Broncos QB returning since the team let Brock Osweiler depart in free agency and traded Trevor Siemian. Denver is evidently set at the game’s marquee position, putting faith in Keenum.
Here’s the latest from the AFC West:
- The Raiders had a busy weekend, making multiple trades for veteran players and taking multiple high-ceiling, low-floor defenders. But they did not invest big in off-ball linebackers, and Reggie McKenzie said (via Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com) a NaVorro Bowman acquisition remains on the table. This has been the GM’s party line for a bit now, but it’s notable that stance remains after the Raiders brought in Tahir Whitehead to start and multiple other veteran backups. Bowman started for the Raiders most of last season and was by far their top-graded linebacker, in the opinion of Pro Football Focus.
- In selecting a player with possible first-round talent in the fifth, the Raiders may have a steal in Maurice Hurst Jr. But the Michigan-developed defensive tackle will be subject to annual heart evaluations after the issue that caused his stock to slip. However, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal notes (via Twitter) the Raiders do not view this as a flier or year-to-year proposition. Hurst was cleared going into the draft after being flagged for a heart problem at the Combine, but it’s clear all 32 teams were not in agreement on Hurst being a safe bet.
- Each of the Chiefs‘ six draft picks went to addressing their defense, which ranked 30th in DVOA last season. But Louis Riddick of ESPN reported during the draft sixth-round pick Kahlil McKenzie — Reggie’s son — will begin his career at guard despite playing defensive tackle at Tennessee. The Chiefs lost Bennie Logan this offseason but drafted Derrick Nnadi out of Florida State to potentially move into that role. Kahlil McKenzie, then, will attempt to carve out a spot on the offensive line.
Patriots Deal No. 198 Choice To Chiefs
The Chiefs just made a pick at No. 196 but have moved up to the No. 198 position, thanks to a trade with the Patriots.
Kansas City continued to add to its front seven, selecting Tennessee defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie. This is the fourth front-seven pick the Chiefs have made thus far this weekend. Kahlil McKenzie is the son of Raiders GM (and fellow former Tennessee and NFL defender) Reggie McKenzie.
Two Chiefs seventh-rounders — Nos. 233 and 243 — will go the Patriots as a result of this trade. McKenzie will join Derrick Nnadi as interior defenders bound for western Missouri.
All six of Kansas City’s 2018 picks have gone to address the defense, which makes sense considering the established starters all over their offense and DVOA having measured the AFC West champions’ defense as the No. 30 unit last season.
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.
Chiefs Land Bengals’ No. 46 Selection
The Chiefs did not have a pick until the No. 54 selection, but they’ve now acquired the Bengals’ No. 46 spot. Rumors throughout the day indicated Kansas City was interested in moving up, and Ian Rapoport reports (on Twitter) they did so.
The Bengals gave up No. 46 and No. 100 to the Chiefs and received K.C.’s No. 54 and No. 78 picks, Paul Dehner Jr. of Cincinnati.com tweets. Cincinnati now owns picks 77 and 78, the latter choice came to the Chiefs from the Redskins in the Alex Smith trade.
While reports on Friday had the Chiefs interested in moving up for a cornerback, they are instead going to bolster their front seven. The Chiefs are taking Ole Miss defensive end Breeland Speaks.
The 6-foot-3, 285-pound defender could be in line to help the Chiefs at the end or linebacker spot in their 3-4 scheme. He registered a career-high seven sacks and 61 tackles last season. This is interesting because the Chiefs took ‘tweener-type edge man Tanoh Kpassagnon in the second round last year.