Minor NFL Transactions: 11/2/18
Here are today’s minor moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Designated to return to practice from IR: TE Noah Brown
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: WR River Cracraft
- Waived: WR Isaiah McKenzie
Miami Dolphins
- Activated off IR: C Jake Brendel
New York Jets
- Activated from PUP: S Rontez Miles
- Waived: S Ibraheim Campbell
Oakland Raiders
- Placed On IR: OT T.J. Clemmings
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/1/18
Today’s minor moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted from practice squad: S Treston Decoud
Oakland Raiders
- Claimed off waivers: T David Sharpe
NFL Workout Updates: 10/31/18
Today’s workout updates, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer:
Cincinnati Bengals
- TE Ben Koyack; FBs Aaron Ripkowski, Shane Smith; DEs Kony Ealy, Ryan Russell; LBs Kasim Edebali, Tyrone Holmes, Aaron Wallace
Green Bay Packers
- RB Ralph Webb
Kansas City Chiefs
Oakland Raiders
- CB Jalen Myrick
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/30/18
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DE Vontarrius Dora, OL Kyle Friend
- Released: DE Ufomba Kamalu, K Matt McCrane
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Xavier Woodson-Luster
- Released: LB Brady Sheldon
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Ethan Wolf
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Steven Mitchell
- Released: WR Cyril Grayson
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DB Maurice Smith
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OG Landon Turner
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Juston Burris
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: OT Jamar McGloster
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Tyrone Swoopes
- Released: OL JJ Dielman
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Dare Ogunbowale
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/30/18
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OG Colby Gossett (off Vikings practice squad), TE John Phillips
- Released: OL Blaine Clausell, TE Gabe Holmes
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: DL Michael Bennett
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: DE Albert McClellan
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: CB Dontae Johnson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: MLB Hayes Pullard
- Waived: K Mike Badgley
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: OG Jamon Brown
New York Giants
- Waived: CB Mike Jordan
Oakland Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: DE/OLB James Cowser
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: DT Bruce Hector
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: WR Victor Bolden, CB Greg Mabin
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Javien Elliott
- Released: LB Kevin Minter
Washington Redskins
- Waived: LB Cassanova McKinzy
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Retires
Raiders cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie announced his retirement on Tuesday. Cromartie saw zero snaps on Sunday, which may have influenced his decision. 
Earlier this year, the Giants asked DRC to move from cornerback to safety. The veteran took well to the plan, but balked when the team later asked him to take a pay cut. In late August, he hooked on with Jon Gruden‘s Raiders, but as is the case with many of the vets that went to Oakland, his role was smaller than expected.
In 2017, Rodgers-Cromartie appeared in 15 games (six starts) for the Giants, managing 31 tackles, a half-sack, and one pass defensed while grading as the NFL’s No. 58 cornerback, per Pro Football Focus. Still, the signs of aging were there. On 25 targets, DRC allowed 7.2 yards per pass, more than double his 2016 average of 3.5. DRC also made headlines as he butted heads with coach Ben McAdoo and was briefly suspended by the team.
Rodgers-Cromartie entered the league in 2008 as a first-round pick of the Cardinals and has since suited up for the Eagles, Broncos, and Giants. He leaves the game with Pro Bowls to his credit to go along with 30 career interceptions and six TDs.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/29/18
Here are Monday’s practice squad decisions:
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Steve Mitchell
- Cut: WR Cyril Grayson
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Juston Burris
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: G Isaiah Williams
- Cut: LB Cayson Collins
Rashaan Melvin On Trade Block
- Bruce Irvin and Karl Joseph are believed to be on the trade block during the Raiders‘ rebuild, and, perhaps unsurprisingly based on the way his season’s gone, so is cornerback Rashaan Melvin. The recently signed corner was a healthy scratch against the Colts on Sunday, and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com notes (video link) Melvin is available for a trade. Melvin signed a one-year, $5.5MM deal but drew Jon Gruden‘s public scrutiny after complaining about his role on the Raiders and the coaching staff’s style earlier this season. Melvin, 29, was a well-regarded Colts starter at this point last season and almost certainly will not be part of the 2019 Raiders.
Raiders’ Bruce Irvin Drawing Trade Interest
The Raiders have already traded wide receiver Amari Cooper and are open to dealing defensive backs Gareon Conley and Karl Joseph, but there’s an additional Oakland player who is also available. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, the Raiders have discussed edge rusher Bruce Irvin with other clubs.
With a limited number of pass rushers available on the trade market, Irvin is a logical candidate to be dealt. However, the Raiders are struggling to find a taker for Irvin’s salary, according to Schefter. If a club acquired Irvin before Tuesday’s deadline, it would be on the hook for the rest of Irvin’s 2018 base salary, which amounts to roughly $4.2MM. Irvin is also under contract for 2019, but he can be released without financial penalty.
Irvin, 30, could potentially offer versatility to a number of clubs, as he’s played both defensive end and outside linebacker during his career. Now in his third season with the Raiders, Irvin has started six games this year while three sacks and four quarterback hits. Pro Football Focus has graded Irvin as a below-average defensive end in 2018, ranking him as a bottom-20 edge defender among 101 qualifiers.
Any number of teams could potentially use another rotational pass rusher, but teams with a true need on the edge include the Rams, Jets, Chiefs, and Lions. The Chargers could also make sense as a landing spot for Irvin given Joey Bosa‘s uncertain injury timeline, while the Bengals are now down a defensive end after Carl Lawson tore his ACL earlier today.
Raiders Tell Derek Carr He Is QB Of Present And Future: Latest On Conley, Joseph
- Albert Breer of TheMMQB says that the Raiders may not be done dealing just yet, though he does not expect the team to move Derek Carr (indeed, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported this morning that the Raiders have told Carr that he is the quarterback of the present and future). However, Oakland is open to moving Karl Joseph and Gareon Conley, though the Raiders are driving a “hard bargain” with teams interested in Conley.