Browns Trade T Leroy Watson To Titans
The Browns and Titans have pulled off a minor swap in advance of this month’s draft. Cleveland has sent offensive tackle Leroy Watson to Tennessee in exchange for a 2024 seventh-round selection (No. 227). Both teams announced the move Friday. 
Watson entered the league as an undrafted free agent. He joined the Patriots’ practice squad ahead of the 2022 season, but in matter of days he took a spot on the 49ers’ taxi squad. San Francisco signed him to a reserve deal at the end of the campaign, one in which he did not see playing time. Watson was waived during 2023 roster cutdowns, but he was retained on the practice squad to begin the season.
As Cleveland dealt with a number of injuries along the offensive line, however, additions were needed up front. That led the Browns to sign the UTSA product to their active roster in November, paving the way for Watson to see his first regular season action. He made a total of seven appearances last season, playing sparingly at both left and right tackle. In a total of 55 offensive snaps, Watson did not commit a penalty and PFF did not charge him with any sacks or pressures allowed.
The 23-year-old will now be able to continue working alongside Bill Callahan. The longtime Browns offensive line coach took the same position with Tennessee this offseason to work with his son, first-time head coach Brian Callahan. Watson will aim to carve out a roster spot during the summer while working under a familiar face on the coaching staff.
The Titans still have two seventh-round selections in 2024 as a result of this deal (although No. 227 was the team’s highest pick in the round), and seven in total. The Browns, meanwhile, will see their pick total increase to six (including a pair of Round 7 selections) with this swap. 2024 marks the third and final draft in which Cleveland will not have a first-rounder owing to the Deshaun Watson trade, but the team will now have extra Day 3 capital.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/2/23
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: RB Tony Jones Jr.
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: DB Kevon Seymour
Cleveland Browns
- Signed to active roster: OT Leroy Watson
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: LB Trevor Nowaske
- Waived: RB Devine Ozigbo
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: DB David Long
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: CB Alex Austin
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: RB Jonathan Ward
With the trade deadline behind us, all veterans are now subject to waivers, meaning some of the players cut today could land on new teams without even hitting free agency. David Long is probably the most intriguing of the bunch, with the cornerback having started 11 of his 60 appearances through five seasons in the NFL. The 25-year-old started one of his eight appearances for the Raiders this season, compiling 12 tackles.
Kevon Seymour is another potential target for those who need some help in the secondary or on special teams. After bouncing around the NFL to begin his career, Seymour found a home in Baltimore in recent years, seeing time in 30 games (two starts) across two-plus seasons with the organization. The former sixth-round pick has mostly played special teams over the past year-plus, collecting six total tackles.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC West
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These 49ers, Cardinals, Rams and Seahawks moves are noted below.
Arizona Cardinals
Claimed:
- C Trystan Colon, TE Elijah Higgins, C Keith Ishmael, T Ilm Manning, DB Starling Thomas, DB K’Von Wallace
Waived:
- WR Daniel Arias, G Marquis Hayes, S Javonte Moffatt, DL Ben Stille, TE Blake Whiteheart
Signed to practice squad:
- QB Jeff Driskel
Los Angeles Rams
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- OL A.J. Arcuri, OL Logan Bruss, DT Marquise Copeland, RB Royce Freeman, DB Tanner Ingle, WR Tyler Johnson, TE Nikola Kalinic, OL Mike McAllister, DB Cameron McCutcheon, OL Grant Miller, LB Troy Reeder, QB Brett Rypien, WR Xavier Smith, OLB Keir Thomas II, WR Austin Trammell
San Francisco 49ers
Placed on IR:
- DL Robert Beal, WR Danny Gray
Signed:
- DL Austin Bryant, DL Kerry Hyder
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- DT Alex Barrett, FB Jack Colletto, WR Chris Conley, DL Marlon Davidson, TE Troy Fumagalli, OL Alfredo Gutierrez (via International Player Pathway), RB Brian Hill, CB Qwuantrezz Knight, OL Corey Luciano, WR Tay Martin, DL T.Y. McGill, LB Curtis Robinson, WR Willie Snead, CB Tre Swilling, OL Leroy Watson, WR Isaiah Winstead
Seattle Seahawks
Claimed:
- CB Kyu Blu Kelly, LB Drake Thomas
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- QB Holton Ahlers, OLB Levi Bell, CB Lance Boykin, CB Artie Burns, T Greg Eiland, DT Matthew Gotel, C Joey Hunt, WR Cade Johnson, RB Bryant Koback, WR Matt Landers, TE Tyler Mabry, LB Patrick O’Connell, S Ty Okada, RB SaRodorick Thompson, WR Easop Winston Jr.
49ers Place Nick Bosa On Reserve/Did Not Report List, Pare Roster To 53
The 49ers joined the Chiefs in placing their best defensive player on the reserve/did not report list due to a holdout and joined the other 30 teams in finalizing their 53-man roster. Some changes are expected, with veterans pledged to stay. But here is how the 49ers reached 53:
Released:
- DL Austin Bryant
- WR Chris Conley
- TE Troy Fumagalli
- RB Brian Hill
- DL Kerry Hyder
- DL T.Y. McGill
- RB Jeremy McNichols
- WR Anthony Miller
- WR Willie Snead
Waived:
- DL Alex Barrett
- FB Jack Colletto
- DL Marlon Davidson
- OL Joey Fisher
- OL Alfredo Gutierrez
- S Myles Hartsfield
- OL Keith Ismael
- CB D’Shawn Jamison
- S Qwuantrezz Knight
- OL Corey Luciano
- OL Ilm Manning
- WR Tay Martin
- LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
- OL Jason Poe
- LB Curtis Robinson
- CB Tre Swilling
- OL Leroy Watson
- WR Isaiah Winstead
Placed on reserve/did not report list:
- DE Nick Bosa
Placed on IR:
- K Zane Gonzalez
- S Tayler Hawkins
- TE Cameron Latu (story)
- CB A.J. Parker
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
The 49ers are planning to re-sign Hyder and Bryant once they make other roster moves, Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Both are vested veterans who are not subject to waivers. With Samson Ebukam and Charles Omenihu gone, Hyder figures to be a key piece as a rotational defensive end. He is with the 49ers for the third time in four seasons. After an 8.5-sack slate in 2020, Hyder signed with the Seahawks. But Seattle released him in 2021, leading the veteran back to the Bay Area.
San Francisco’s 53-man roster will include Bosa soon, and this holdout does not appear as contentious as the Chris Jones-Chiefs standoff. John Lynch has indicated the 49ers will waive Bosa’s fines for missing training camp — an option the 49ers have due to Bosa being tied to a rookie contract. While the 49ers changed defensive coordinators, bringing in Steve Wilks to replace DeMeco Ryans, D-line coach Kris Kocurek remains in place. Bosa should be able to hit the ground running once he returns, though the 49ers are running short on time here.
Gonzalez suffered a calf injury Kyle Shanahan said would keep him out a few weeks. With the veteran landing on IR, an injury settlement is likely. The 49ers used a third-round pick on Michigan kicker Jake Moody, but Barrows notes the strained quadriceps injury he suffered may keep him out of Week 1. On that note, the 49ers worked out Tristan Vizcaino and Taylor Russolino, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area notes. Robbie Gould, the 49ers’ kicker for the past six seasons, remains unsigned.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/31/23
Here are today’s reserve/futures contracts handed out:
Cincinnati Bengals
- TE Nick Bowers, QB Jake Browning, DE Owen Carney, OT Devin Cochran, S Yusuf Corker, DT Domenique Davis, G Nate Gilliam, TE Tanner Hudson, DE Raymond Johnson, LB Keandre Jones, WR Kwamie Lassiter, CB Marvell Tell
New York Jets
San Francisco 49ers
- DL Alex Barrett, OL Alfredo Gutierrez, S Tayler Hawkins, OL Keith Ismael, DB Qwuantrezz Knight, WR Tay Martin, WR Dazz Newsome, OL Jason Poe, LB Curtis Robinson, T Leroy Watson
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/5/22
As Week 1 practices begin, here are the latest updates to teams’ 16-man practice squads:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DL Khyiris Tonga
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DB Marquise Blair
- Released: WR Ra’Shaun Henry
Cincinnati Bengals
- Released: TE Thaddeus Moss
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: DE Mika Tafua
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Vyncint Smith
Detroit Lions
- Signed: QB Tim Boyle
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: K Ramiz Ahmed
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Ty Summers
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: S James Wiggins
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DT Kyle Peko
Los Angeles Chargers:
- Signed: TE Richard Rodgers
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DTs Markaviest Bryant, Josiah Bronson, Christopher Hinton, T Kion Smith, CB Chris Steele
- Released: DT Niles Scott
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Laquon Treadwell (story)
New York Giants
- Signed: CB Fabian Moreau, WR Marcus Johnson
- Released: DB Harrison Hand
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Mac McCain
- Released: S Anthony Harris (story)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Josh Jackson
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Buddy Johnson, OL Leroy Watson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Joshua Onujiogu, DE Jabari Zuniga
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Kenny Young
Washington Commanders
- Signed: OL Wes Martin
A former Washington starter and the primary Atlanta cornerback opposite A.J. Terrell last season, Moreau has experience playing both the slot and outside. The former third-round pick signed with the Texans earlier this offseason but did not make their 53-man roster.
The Lions attempted to keep David Blough by offering the Hard Knocks cast member a spot on their practice squad, but the three-year Detroit backup opted to head to Minnesota. He is currently on the Vikings’ 16-man taxi squad. A previous Aaron Rodgers backup, Boyle signed with the Lions last year.
Despite being a former second-round pick, Blair did not make the Seahawks’ 53-man roster this year. Knee injuries have sidelined him for most of the past two seasons. Seattle had stopped using Blair as a nickel, his primary role when on the field with the team that drafted him, during training camp.
Included as part of a 2019 trade that sent Marcus Peters to Baltimore, Young was also traded from the Rams to the Broncos last year. He started all 13 games he played in 2021 — seven as a Ram, six as a Bronco — and helped Denver fill the void created by Alexander Johnson and Josey Jewell‘s season-ending injuries. Young spent most of this offseason with the Raiders but did not make their roster.
Falcons Reduce Roster To 53
With the deadline for teams to cut their rosters down to 53 players minutes away, the Falcons are the latest team to announce how they got there. Here are the moves Atlanta made to set its roster:
Released:
- WR Cameron Batson
- TE Anthony Firkser
- OL Jonotthan Harrison
- ILB Nick Kwiatkoski
- TE MyCole Pruitt
Waived:
- DL Abdullah Anderson
- DB Corey Ballentine
- WR Stanley Berryhill
- S Henry Black
- OLB Jordan Brailford
- DL Darrion Daniels
- WR Frank Darby
- TE Tucker Fisk
- OL Colby Gossett
- DB Matt Hankins
- RB Caleb Huntley
- WR KeeSean Johnson
- OL Ryan Nuezil
- RB Qadree Ollison
- OL Justin Shaffer
- S Teez Tabor
- DL Derrick Tangelo
- DL Nick Thurman
- OL Tyler Vrabel
- OL Leroy Watson
Waived/injured:
- ILB Dorian Etheridge
- FB John Raine
A few of Atlanta’s offseason additions are no longer with the team. Former Arthur Smith Titans charges Firkser and Pruitt — each of whom being with Tennessee during the current Atlanta HC’s run as Titans tight ends coach — leave a young tight end group. It would not surprise if one of the two — if not both — were back, via a belated active-roster return or practice squad stash. The Falcons currently have Kyle Pitts, 2021 UDFA Parker Hesse and sixth-round rookie John FitzPatrick at tight end.
The team also signed Kwiatkoski this offseason, bringing him in along with a few ILB investments. But the former Bears and Raiders starter/depth piece is back in free agency. The Falcons still have Deion Jones rostered, despite trade rumors, and have former first-round Titans pick Rashaan Evans in place as well. The team also drafted Troy Andersen in Round 2 this year.
Falcons Sign 13 UDFAs
The Falcons announced the signing of 13 undrafted free agents:
- Jared Bernhardt, WR (Ferris State)
- Stanley Berryhill, WR (Arizona)
- Kuony Deng, OLB (California)
- Matt Hankins, CB (Iowa)
- Brad Hawkins, S (Michigan)
- Timothy Horne, DL (Kansas State)
- Tyshaun James, WR (Central Connecticut)
- Nathan Landman, ILB (Colorado)
- Bryce Rodgers, DL (UC-Davis)
- Derrick Tangelo, DL (Penn State)
- Seth Vernon, P (Portland State)
- Tyler Vrabel, OL (Boston College)
- Leroy Watson, TE (UT-San Antonio)
“We keep talking about our scouting staff and our coaches and all the work that goes into it, and they really grind through this free agency process as well,” GM Terry Fontenot said right after the draft (via Scott Bair of the team’s website). “So I know we are going to continue to add some good football players. We’re excited.
“Once they get here, it doesn’t matter how they got here. It’s competition at every position.”
Derrick Tangelo got some significant money from the organization. Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets that the defensive lineman got $55K guaranteed, including a $5K signing bonus. The rookie had 6.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss in five seasons split between Duke and Penn State.