Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC West
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC West teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, and Chargers are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s AFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:
Denver Broncos
- Signed to practice squad:
- RB Juwan Thompson (Link via Cameron Wolfe)
- CB Taurean Nixon
- DL Vontarrius Dora
- OL Justin Murray
- WR Mose Frazier
- S Ryan Murphy
- TE Henry Krieger-Coble
- C Dillon Day
- DL Kyle Kragen (Link via Mike Klis)
- WR Kalif Raymond (Link via Klis)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Claimed:
- LB Sam Barrington (Twitter link via Mike Florio of PFT)
- T Bryan Witzmann
- Waived:
- LB Ramik Wilson (Link via Adam Schefter)
- G Jordan Devey (Link via Terez A. Paylor)
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR Frankie Hammond (link via Aaron Wilson)
- ILB Terrance Smith (link via Terez A. Paylor)
- OL Jarrod Pughsley (link via Paylor)
- DL David King (Link via Paylor)
- S Shak Randolph (Link via Paylor)
- C Daniel Munyer (Link via Paylor)
- LB Tyrell Adams (Link via Paylor)
- WR Seantavius Jones (Link via Paylor)
- RB Darrin Reaves (Link via Paylor)
- S Brock Vereen (Link via Paylor)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed to practice squad:
- TE Ryan O’Malley (Link via Aaron Wilson)
- WR Jaydon Mickens (Link via Lars Hanson)
- OL Oni Omoile (Link via Zack Spears)
- WR K.J. Brent (Official announcement)
- CB Kenneth Durden (Official announcement)
- DL Branden Jackson (Official announcement)
- OG Denver Kirkland (Official announcement)
- LB Korey Toomer (Official announcement)
San Diego Chargers
- Claimed:
- DB Pierre Desir (Link via NFL Draft Diamonds)
- DT Caraun Reid (Link via Mike Florio of PFT)
- RB Andre Williams (story)
- Waived:
- CB Steve Williams (Link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com)
- LB Chris Landrum
- TE Asante Cleveland
- Signed to practice squad:
- LB Ben Gardner (link via Michael Gehlken)
- CB Trevor Williams (link via Michael Gehlken)
- WR Dom Williams (link via Michael Gehlken)
- S Adrian McDonald (link via Michael Gehlken)
- OT Austin Shepherd (link via Michael Gehlken)
- DT Kaleb Eulls
- TE Jake McGee (link via Gehlkin)
- WR Jonathan Krause (link via Gehlkin)
- LB Chris Landrum (link via Gehlkin)
- TE Asante Cleveland (link via Gehlkin)
Waiver Wire Priority For All 32 NFL Teams
Yesterday was the 53-man roster deadline, but the madness will continue today as teams pick through the waiver pile for talented discards. Priority is dictated by the reverse standings with tiebreakers where necessary, which is to say that it will be the same as the 2016 draft order before all the trades. Unlike your fantasy league’s waiver wire, a team does not go to the back of the list upon making a successful claim. That means that the league’s worst teams from 2015 have a significant advantage today as they make late roster additions.
Here is the complete waiver priority order:
1. Titans
2. Browns
3. Chargers
4. Cowboys
5. Jaguars
6. Ravens
7. 49ers
8. Dolphins
9. Buccaneers
10. Giants
11. Bears
12. Saints
13. Eagles
14. Raiders
15. Rams
16. Lions
17. Falcons
18. Colts
19. Bills
20. Jets
21. Redskins
22. Texans
23. Vikings
24. Bengals
25. Seahawks
26. Packers
27. Steelers
28. Chiefs
29. Patriots
30. Cardinals
31. Panthers
32. Broncos
Details On Dewey McDonald Trade
The Sam Bradford trade got all the headlines today, but there were actually three smaller deals that were also consummated in the past twelve hours, and we’ve now learned the details about the returns. The Seahawks gave up a conditional 2017 seventh-rounder to acquire safety Dewey McDonald from the Raiders, and a conditional 2018 seventh-rounder to pick up safety L.J. McCray from the 49ers, tweets Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Meanwhile — and this might be a first — the Chiefs and 49ers have agreed to swap conditional 2019 seventh-round picks as part of the trade that sent wide receiver Rod Streater to San Francisco, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link).
Raiders Trim Roster To 53
The Raiders have moved their roster to 53 players by making the following moves:
Waived:
- RB George Atkinson III
- G Mitch Bell
- WR K.J. Brent
- CB Kenneth Durden
- WR Marvin Hall
- DL Drew Iddings
- DL Branden Jackson
- G Denver Kirkland
- DT Derrick Lott
- LB John Lotulelei
- TE Jake McGee
- WR Jaydon Mickens
- TE Ryan O’Malley
- G Oni Omoile
- CB Neiko Thorpe
- LB Korey Toomer
- DE Greg Townsend Jr.
- LB Kyrie Wilson
Waived/injured:
- LB Neiron Ball
- LB James Cowser
Additionally, the Raiders also traded safety Dewey McDonald to the Seahawks earlier today.
Seahawks’ Roster Now At 53
The Seahawks haven’t officially released their moves today, but as Curtis Crabtree of KJR noted (Twitter link), the club has listed their transactions on their official team depth chart.
Cut:
- G Jahri Evans (story)
- FB Will Tukuafu
- DT Brandin Bryant
- TE Clayton Echard
- QB Jake Heaps
- LB Steve Longa
- WR Douglas McNeil III
- WR Uzoma Nwachukwu
- WR Kasen Williams
- RB Troymaine Pope
- G/C Will Pericak
- WR Antwan Goodley
- DE Tylor Harris
- S Keenan Lambert
- WR Kenny Lawler
- LB Kache Palacio
- DE Ryan Robinson
- CB Tye Smith
- DT Tani Tupou
Waived/injured:
- TE Joe Sommers
- CB Marcus Burley
- DTJordan Hill
- LB Eric Pinkins
- T Terry Poole
Waived From IR:
- RB George Farmer
- DB Trovon Reed
- WR Kevin Smith
- DT Sealver Siliga
The Seahawks also announced that they’ve acquired defensive back Dewey McDonald (for a conditional 2017 pick, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com) from the Raiders, and, as we previously noted, acquired safety L.J. McCray from the 49ers.
Raiders TE Mychal Rivera Drawing Trade Interest
Teams in need of a tight end have called up the Raiders for Mychal Rivera, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. However, it sounds like Rivera will be staying put in Oakland. 
The Raiders are understandably high on Clive Walford and will probably put more emphasis on him in the offense this year. However, they also like what Rivera offers and it probably makes sense to hang on to him after Walford suffered a knee injury earlier this offseason.
Rivera, 25, started 10 games for the Raiders in 2014, catching a career-high 58 balls for 534 yards and four touchdowns. Last year, he saw his role reduced upon the arrival of Walford, a 2015 third-round pick.
Although Rivera still caught more passes in 2015 than Walford (32 to 28), he averaged just 8.8 yards per reception and found the end zone only once. Walford had three TDs and averaged nearly 12 yards per catch, and also assumed a larger role within the offense during the second half of the season.
After earning the minimum salary for his first three seasons, Rivera will see his base salary jump to $1.671MM for 2016.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Mario Edwards To Miss First Six Games?
Mario Edwards resides as a key piece for the Raiders’ retooled defense but hasn’t practiced since suffering a hip injury during the team’s first preseason game. Initially believed to be in line to miss one or two regular-season games, Edwards could now be an IR list candid
ate.
Jack Del Rio told Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle the second-year defensive end may need to start the season with this distinction, which would shelve Edwards for a minimum of six games and deal a blow to the Raiders’ front.
The previous IR-DTR format has been altered, giving teams the option of removing one player from IR after he’s spent six weeks there and is again healthy enough to play.
This would allow Oakland to use an extra roster spot for a depth player while Edwards continues his rehabilitation but would also potentially stunt the development of a talented performer. Edwards functioned as a defensive end and and defensive tackle for the Raiders last season, rating as one of Pro Football Focus’ best run-stoppers among edge defenders. He only registered two sacks as a rookie but stood to benefit from the Raiders’ acquisition of Bruce Irvin, with the 2015 second-round pick being set to rush from the interior on passing downs.
Edwards, of course, needed extensive rehab time to make it back to the field in time for minicamp. A mysterious neck injury ended his rookie season in December, and the former Florida State talent wasn’t cleared medically to return until May. The Raiders are deciding whether or not to allow Edwards extra time to heal this latest setback and return by late October.
In Edwards’ place, Oakland has been running out third-year veteran Denico Autry, a third-year UDFA. The Raiders also drafted Jihad Ward in the second round, and the former Illinois cog lined up across the Fighting Illini’s defensive fronts. So, the team has more options than it did a season ago when Edwards went down.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Raiders Make Cuts, Down To 75
The Raiders have cut down to 75 with roughly 24 hours to spare. The following players have been waived by Oakland:
- S Chris Edwards
- S Chris Hackett
- S Jimmy Hall
- WR Joe Hanley
- WR Max McCaffrey
- WR Nathan Palmer
- DT Leon Orr
- K Giorgio Tavecchio
- TE Colton Underwood
- DB Tramain Jacobs
- LS Andrew East
- LB Lenny Jones
- OL Terran Vaughn
- OL Ross Burbank
In addition, the Raiders also formally placed tight end Gabe Holmes on IR.
McCaffrey, of course, is the son of former Denver wide receiver Ed McCaffrey. Max, a Duke product, turned heads when he posted a 4.46 second 40-yard dash at his pro day earlier this year.
Latest on Raiders, Las Vegas
In preparing for potential relocation, the Raiders filed for three trademarks to the phrase “Las Vegas Raiders” earlier this week, reports Darren Rovell of ESPN. The trademarks would give the Raiders the exclusive right to use the name for sporting events and sell it on merchandise.
The Raiders aren’t the first to seek the “Las Vegas Raiders” trademark, according to Rovell, who writes that six filings have previously been made for it. Further, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office reviews each filing from oldest to newest, so the Raiders will have to wait in line. Those who filed before the Raiders would likely have to make a case that their filing isn’t related to the team, adds Rovell.
Of course, in order for the trademark to matter, the Raiders will have to find a place to play in Las Vegas. Representatives from two proposed stadium backers – Majestic Realty and the Las Vegas Sands casino company – are zeroing in on a pair of potential sites just west of the Las Vegas Strip, per the Associated Press. However, the representatives declared Thursday that they won’t accept any less than a record $750MM in public funding toward a new stadium. Their insistence comes as a result of the increase in cost to build the facility. The proposal for a 65,000-seat domed stadium was initially estimated at $1.45 billion, but it’s now up to $1.9 billion. The Raiders previously expressed a willingness to contribute $500MM to the cause.
“If we can’t get 750, we respectfully thank you but we’re going to move on,” stated Sands president Rob Goldstein.
Public funding toward the stadium would come primarily from an increase in a Las Vegas-area hotel room tax, and Goldstein said it would be a “negligible” cost for those staying in hotels. However, Steve Hill – chair of the oversight committee and head of the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development – isn’t open to the idea.
“The public is not making a contribution to a privately owned stadium,” Hill commented.
For his part, Nevada Sen. Harry Reid has been quiet about whether taxpayers should help fund a stadium, but he does think “it would be great” if the Raiders relocated to Las Vegas (via the San Francisco Chronicle). In order for that to happen, they’ll need a stadium to call home and three-fourths approval from NFL owners.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
10 Teams That Could Claim RB Karlos Williams
After waiving him yesterday, the Bills “fully expect” another NFL club to land running back Karlos Williams, and we’ll find out tomorrow if any other team decided to place a claim (the waiver period is typically 24 hours, but rolls over until Monday on weekends). If no one else is interested, Williams will become a free agent. But given that Williams’ (minimal) signing bonus will accelerate onto Buffalo’s cap –meaning that any acquiring team would only be on the hook for minimum salaries for the next three years — it seems likely that Williams will get claimed.
Clearly, there are reasons to be concerned about Williams’ future. He’ll be suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season after violating the league’s substance abuse policy, and he’s struggled with his weight throughout the offseason. At one point, Williams was up 261 pounds, and after losing some of that heft, he’d reportedly begun to balloon once again, leaving the Bills to wonder if he was serious about football.
But Williams also flashed dynamic ability during his rookie season, finishing with 613 yards from scrimmage and nine TDs on just 104 touches while averaging 5.6 yards per carry. The 23-year-old also became one of just two players in NFL history to score a touchdown in each of his first six games in the league. All in all, Williams seemingly defines an old adage: high risk, high reward.
Let’s take a look at several teams that could be interested in Williams, listed in order of their waiver priority:
Cleveland Browns — New head coach Hue Jackson is trying to foster a new culture with the Browns, but he’s also shown a willingness to give players a second chance. He’s embraced wide receiver Josh Gordon, who was recently reinstated from a season-long suspension, and he stood by running back Isaiah Crowell after the latter posted a disturbing image online. Crowell and Duke Johnson figure to get most of the run for Cleveland during the upcoming season, but the club should be stockpiling talent during its rebuild, and Williams would be a cheap upgrade.
San Diego Chargers — San Diego had high hopes for its rushing attack after trading up to select Melvin Gordon in the first round of last year’s draft, but offensive line injuries and Gordon’s own poor play led to the Chargers finishing 31st in rushing DVOA. Gordon then had microfracture surgery in January, and while his long-term prognosis is positive, serious knee injuries are always unwelcome news for young running backs. It looks like Gordon is already losing work to Danny Woodhead during the preseason, and if the Chargers think Gordon is in for another sub-par season, they could take a risk on Williams.
Baltimore Ravens — This is only my speculation, but given that he’s on the wrong side of 30, coming off injury, and due a non-guaranteed $3MM base salary, veteran running back Justin Forsett could be a surprise cut as roster cutdowns approach. Such a move would be made much easier if the Ravens were able to acquire a talent like Williams, who could slot in the backfield after his suspension, teaming with Javorius Allen, Terrance West, Kenneth Dixon, and perhaps Lorenzo Taliaferro. Baltimore has taken chances on character risks in the past, though the club was burned by safety Will Hill, with whom they cut ties after he was handed a 10-game suspension.
Philadelphia Eagles — Like the Browns, the Eagles haven’t been afraid to collect players who are considered character risks, as evidenced by their trade for receiver Dorial Green-Beckham last week. Philadelphia is hoping it can turn around the career of DGB, who struggled with both motivation and learning the Titans’ playbook, and they could place a similar bet on Williams. Like DGB, Williams clearly has talent, and the Eagles could use another option alongside Ryan Mathews, Kenjon Barner, Darren Sproles, and Wendell Smallwood. Turron Davenport of USA Today recently looked at how Williams could succeed in the type of outside zone runs employed by the Eagles.