Here are the day’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
Dallas Cowboys
Green Bay Packers
Houston Texans
Las Vegas Raiders
Seattle Seahawks
The Texans continue to add to their cornerback room ahead of their season opener. They added a former Washington slot defender to their reconfigured mix Tuesday.
Houston claimed Jimmy Moreland off waivers from Washington, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Washington waived Moreland with an injury designation, per Sports Talk 790’s Aaron Wilson, who notes the third-year veteran is healthy as of Tuesday (Twitter link).
Moreland will join newcomers Desmond King, Terrance Mitchell and Tavierre Thomas among the Texans’ cornerback contingent. A former seventh-round pick, Moreland played steadily with Washington over the past two seasons. He played 599 snaps with Washington’s top-five-ranked defense last year (518 in the slot) and ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 75 overall corner. Moreland, 26, also played 470 defensive snaps as a rookie for Washington’s previous regime.
While the Texans submitted a successful claim, Fowler adds (via Twitter) the Eagles were planning to sign Moreland had he cleared waivers. Washington made Moreland one of its final cuts to move their roster down to 53 last week. Two years remain on the James Madison alum’s rookie contract.
The Washington Football Team has its 53-man roster in place. Today, they waived/released:
The release of Montez leaves three QBs on WFT’s roster — Ryan Fitzpatrick, Taylor Heinicke, and Kyle Allen. Barber — among their previously reported cuts — will exit a group that still includes Antonio Gibson, J.D. McKissic, and UDFA Jaret Patterson.
Brandon Scherff has played the final game of his Redskins rookie contract. The team placed its top offensive lineman on IR Tuesday, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
The fifth-year guard is in line to be one of the top free agents on the 2020 market. Washington has the option of the franchise tag. Teams have not been big on tagging guards this decade, with the Patriots’ 2011 tag for Logan Mankins being the most recent such move. But with the team expected to move on from Trent Williams, it might place a greater emphasis on retaining Scherff. An offensive line franchise tag is expected to cost just more than $15MM.
The Redskins and their Pro Bowl blocker did not progress far in contract talks previously. With the guard market recently spiking past $14MM AAV, via Zack Martin and Brandon Brooks extensions, a two-time Pro Bowler who will be set for an age-28 season will be a threat to eclipse that on the open market. It would likely take a massive commitment to keep Scherff from hitting free agency.
A 2015 top-five pick, Scherff missed time because of elbow and shoulder injuries this season. His 2018 slate came to an end early because of a pectoral injury. He’s started 65 games for the Redskins, making the Pro Bowl in 2017 and ’18.
Washington also placed wideout Trey Quinn and cornerback Jimmy Moreland on IR and signed cornerbacks Kayvon Webster and Coty Sensabaugh.
Washington’s quarterback of the future signed his rookie deal on Thursday. Dwayne Haskins inked his four-year contract, with the 2023 option, the Redskins announced.
Chosen No. 15 overall, the Ohio State product signed his slot deal — worth $14.416MM with an $8.504MM signing bonus.
Six other Redskins draftees joined Haskins in signing shortly before the team begins its rookie minicamp. Running back Bryce Love, guard Wes Martin, center Ross Pierschbacher, linebacker Cole Holcomb, wide receiver Kelvin Harmon and cornerback Jimmy Moreland signed their four-year rookie pacts.
The second Redskins first-round quarterback pick this decade and fourth this century — following Patrick Ramsey, Jason Campbell, and Robert Griffin III — Haskins comes to Washington on the heels of throwing 50 touchdown passes as a sophomore. He joins a new-look Redskins quarterback room, featuring Case Keenum, and will likely see extensive action as a rookie.
The only members of Washington’s draft class yet to sign are Montez Sweat and Haskins’ college teammate Terry McLaurin.