Minor NFL Transactions: 7/26/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: TE/FB Parker Houston
Los Angeles Rams
- Released: WR Greg Dortch, S Jake Gervase, C Nate Trewyn, TE Ethan Wolf
New England Patriots
- Released: CB Lenzy Pipkins
Dolphins Cut Ricardo Louis, Jake Rudock
The Dolphins have released wide receiver Ricardo Louis and quarterback Jake Rudock, as first reported by ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). The early cuts will help the Dolphins shape the roster to meet the league’s recommended 80-man roster max. 
[RELATED: Dolphins Rookie Ray Lima Retires]
Louis joined the Dolphins in the spring of 2019 but did not play due to a knee injury. Prior to that, he spent three years with the Browns and tallied 45 catches for 562 yards. The Miami native was hoping to reassert himself with his hometown club, but he’ll have to seek work elsewhere.
Rudock also joined the Dolphins last year, but spent the year on the practice squad. The 2016 sixth-round choice of the Lions has just three career appearances to his credit. Even before the release, Rudock was facing long odds of making the active roster. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tua Tagovailoa, and (possibly) Josh Rosen project to serve as the Dolphins’ active QBs to open the season.
Chargers Sign Justin Herbert, Wrap Draft Class
The Chargers have wrapped up their 2020 NFL Draft class, per a club announcement. Quarterback Justin Herbert was the first reported signing, and the rest of the crop followed soon after. The full rundown, per our tracker: 
1-6: Justin Herbert, QB (Oregon): Signed
1-23: Kenneth Murray, LB (Oklahoma): Signed
4-112: Joshua Kelley, RB (UCLA): Signed
5-151: Joe Reed, WR (Virginia): Signed
6-186: Alohi Gilman, S (Notre Dame): Signed
7-220: K.J. Hill, WR (Ohio State): Signed
Herbert was a polarizing prospect. Those that are high on the Oregon product believe that his elite arm strength will allow him to succeed as a starter. Others are concerned about his pension for holding on to the ball for too long. The debate between Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa was fierce, but, ultimately, the Dolphins made the decision for the Chargers by selecting the Alabama star No. 5 overall. At No. 6, GM Tom Telesco said that he would have been perfectly happy with either passer.
Herbert will have the unenviable task of eventually stepping into Philip Rivers’ shoes. For now, the 6’6″ rookie will likely begin the year as the QB2 behind Tyrod Taylor.
Giants To Sign Chandler Catanzaro
The Giants have agreed to sign Chandler Catanzaro, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Catanzaro will enter camp as the Giants’ frontrunner for the kicking job, which has been freed up by the release of Aldrick Rosas. 
[RELATED: Giants Cut Aldrick Rosas]
Catanzaro, 29, hooked on with the Jets last March. After a rocky training camp and equally rough start to the preseason, he announced his retirement. Now, he’s coming back for New Jersey’s other team.
The Clemson product had a tremendous start to his career with the Cardinals. Catanzaro nailed 87.9% of his kicks as a rookie and 90.3% of his tries in 2015. His success rate dipped to 75% in 2016, but bounced back a bit with the Jets in 2017, making 83.3% of his kicks and all of his PATs. Then, he dipped once again. His three-year deal with the Bucs was torn up pretty quickly after he missed two field goals in a loss to the Redskins, ending his Tampa Bay tenure with a weak 73.3% success rate. His last live action came with the Panthers towards the end of the 2018 campaign.
The Giants preferred Catanzaro’s on-field mistakes to Rosas’ off-the-field issues. Earlier this summer, cops alleged that Rosas was behind the wheel in a hit-and-run accident, and authorities suspect that alcohol was involved.
Giants To Cut K Aldrick Rosas
The Giants are moving on from Aldrick Rosas, according to Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Rosas is facing three misdemeanor charges in connection with a hit-and-run accident earlier this summer. 
[RELATED: Latest On Giants, Markus Golden]
California authorities say that Rosas was going 100 mph when he t-boned another car in June and they believe that he may have been intoxicated. Per the police report, Rosas was driving erratically before he blew through a red light and smashed into the side of a pickup truck. Then, cops say he continued driving, stopped only when his SUV broke down, and took off running. When police arrived on the scene, they found Rosas walking nearby with his legs and bare feet covered in blood.
This wasn’t Rosas’ first incident. In February of 2016 – just before the draft – Rosas was arrested and charged with a DUI. The DUI charge was ultimately dismissed, but Rosas pled guilty to having a BAC over the legal limit and received 30 months of probation.
Since joining the Giants, Rosas has made 62 of his 75 field goal tries. In 2018, he earned a trip to the Pro Bowl, making him just one of four kickers in Giants franchise history to secure the honors. He’s been the Giants’ kicker for 48 straight games, but there were some hiccups last year, including four missed PATs.
Rosas’ release will take his $3.26MM salary off the books and leave the Giants’ with a kicking vacancy. Stephen Gostkowski – and old friend of Giants head coach Joe Judge – could be a logical fit.
Chiefs To Sign G Kelechi Osemele
The Chiefs have agreed to sign guard Kelechi Osemele to a one-year deal, as Terez A. Paylor of Yahoo Sports tweets. Financial terms of the deal are not yet known. 
[RELATED: LDT Opts Out Of 2020 NFL Season]
Osemele will help to fortify the Chiefs’ offensive line following Laurent Duvernay-Tardif‘s decision to opt out of the 2020 season. Osemele might not be the player he once was, but this is about as good as it gets for a last-minute August replacement. The 31-year-old is a two-time Pro Bowler with 96 career appearances, all of which are starts.
The Jets acquired Osemele from the Raiders last offseason in exchange for a Day 3 draft pick. He played through shoulder pain in the first three games of the season and told the team that he needed surgery. The Jets disagreed and urged the veteran to return to action. Things got uglier as the year wore on – the NFLPA got involved and went to bat on Osemele’s behalf. Ultimately, the Jets released him in October, months before his $11.35MM non-guaranteed base salary for 2020 was scheduled to kick in.
During his first Raiders season, Osemele graded out as one of the very best interior protectors in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. Soon, the Chiefs will see how much he has left in the tank. He’ll compete with newcomer Mike Remmers. Andrew Wylie, and Martinas Rankin for his spot on the depth chart.
Jets Trade Jamal Adams To Seahawks
The Jets have traded safety Jamal Adams to the Seahawks, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Seahawks sent a 2021 first-round pick, a 2021 third-round pick, a 2022 first-round pick, and safety Bradley McDougald to the Jets in exchange for Adams and a 2022 fourth-round choice. 
[RELATED: Adams Says Adam Gase Isn’t “Right Leader” For Jets]
Jets GM Joe Douglas has come under fire for his handling of Adams, but it’s hard to argue with the Jets’ return on the trade. It’s a stunning haul, considering how badly the Adams bridge had been burned.
The Seahawks, meanwhile, have received one of the league’s most exciting young talents. Adams – who won’t turn 25 until October – has been a certified star since his rookie season and he’s been rock solid in coverage for the last two years. Between 2018 and 2019, only Vikings standout Anthony Harris graded out higher than Adams at safety, according to Pro Football Focus. Eddie Jackson (Bears) is No. 3 on the list, and he currently stands as the league’s top-paid safety. In 2019, Adams earned his first ever First-Team All-Pro nod while notching 75 tackles, seven passes defensed, 6.5 sacks, and a defensive touchdown.
It’s an immediate lift for the Seahawks and a future cornerstone for their secondary. Of course, they’ll have to iron out a new deal with Adams sooner rather than later. For now, Adams has two years of club control remaining on his deal. Beyond that, he’s seeking a deal that will position him as the league’s highest paid safety, meaning a floor of $15MM per year. Adams was also pushing the Jets for $20MM per season – putting him in defensive end territory – but that sticker price was probably exclusive to Gang Green. For the Seahawks, and other clubs that were on his wish list, the ask was believed to be a bit lower. Also, Adams is reportedly willing to wait until next year to start negotiations with the Seahawks.
Throughout the offseason, Douglas told the world that he would not trade Adams under any circumstances. That stance softened in recent weeks as Adams voice his displeasure more and more. Adams claims that the Jets promised him an extension offer in January. That offer never came. In the spring, the Jets pinned the delay on the pandemic and the related economic factors, but he wasn’t buying it. Per one recent report, Jets ownership instructed the front office to hold on large, multi-year committments long before COVID-19 reached the United States.
The Cowboys, Ravens, Texans, Chiefs, Eagles, 49ers, and Buccaneers were also among Adams’ preferred destinations. It’s not clear whether those clubs made an aggressive play for Adams, however. Any of those teams would have loved to have him – especially the Texans, given their glaring need at the position – but the Jets’ asking price coupled with the expense of a new Adams deal cooled the interest of most clubs. For the Seahawks, it was well worth it.
While most teams have held off on making major moves this offseason, the NFC West has been a notable exception. Adams is the latest big-time trade acquisition in the division, following the 49ers’ move for Trent Williams and the Cardinals stunner of a deal for DeAndre Hopkins. The Rams, who have made a habit of splashy moves in their new L.A. digs, have not been quite as proactive.
Chiefs’ Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Opts Out Of 2020 NFL Season
Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif announced (via Twitter) that he will opt out of the upcoming season. Per the terms of the league’s agreement with the NFLPA, his decision is irrevocable. 
[RELATED: Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence Considering Opt Out]
Duvernay-Tardif, a medical school graduate, is the first player to exercise his right to opt out. He’s been volunteering at a long-term care facility in Quebec, Canada during the pandemic – after witnessing the impact of COVID-19 first-hand, LDT decided to play it safe and not play.
“This is one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in my life, but I must follow my convictions and do what I believe is right for me personally,” Duvernay-Tardif said. “That is why I have decided to take the opt-out option negotiated by the league and the NFLPA and officially opt out of the 2020 NFL season. Being at the front line during this offseason has given me a different perspective on this pandemic and the stress it puts on individuals and our healthcare system. I cannot allow myself to potentially transmit the virus to our communities simply to play the sport I love. If I am to take risks, I will do it caring for patients.
“I want to thank everyone in the Kansas City Chiefs organization for their support and understanding.”
Duvernay-Tardif was set to play on the five-year, $42.36MM extension he inked with the Chiefs following the 2016 season. Instead, his contract will toll, meaning that his deal will resume in 2021 and now extend through the 2022 season. This year, the Chiefs will undoubtedly miss having him up front. He’s been the club’s starter at right guard for the past five seasons, save for an injury-marred 2018.
Jets Sign Ashtyn Davis, Wrap Draft Class
That’s a wrap. The Jets have inked third-round safety Ashtyn Davis to his rookie contract to round out their 2020 draft class (Twitter link via Manish Mehta of the Daily News). 
[RELATED: Jets Willing To Trade Adams]
Davis, a Cal product, underwent core muscle surgery just before the draft. However, he’s expected to be 100% healthy by Week 1.
Safety seems to be Davis’ most likely position in the pros, but he also spent time at cornerback early in his collegiate career. The former walk-on is ready, willing, and even eager to line up at different spots in Gregg Williams‘ defense.
“I think I can contribute anywhere they put me. I’m comfortable on the outside and inside, whatever the case may be,” Davis said. “After my first year of playing safety, I wanted to know every position and not just my responsibility. That way if someone went down they could put me in.”
Per the terms of his slot, Davis has received a four-year, $4.9MM deal. Here’s the full rundown of the Jets’ nine-man freshman class, via PFR’s tracker:
1-11: Mekhi Becton, T (Louisville): Signed
2-59: Denzel Mims, WR (Baylor): Signed
3-68: Ashtyn Davis, S (California): Signed
3-79: Jabari Zuniga, DE (Florida): Signed
4-120: Lamical Perine, RB (Florida): Signed
4-125: James Morgan, QB (Florida International): Signed
4-129: Cameron Clark, OT (Charlotte): Signed
5-158: Bryce Hall, CB (Virginia): Signed
6-191: Braden Mann, P (Texas A&M): Signed
Dolphins Rookie DL Ray Lima Retires
The Dolphins waived undrafted defensive lineman Ray Lima earlier today, but the move wasn’t simply an attempt to trim the roster. Rather, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald tweets, the rookie has decided to retire.
Lima didn’t show up to Dolphins camp today, and while head coach Brian Flores tried to change the rookie’s mind, the lineman decided to move on from the sport. Jackson notes that the decision had “nothing to do with COVID-19.” Rather, Lima simply “wants to do something else with his life.”
The six-foot-three, 316-pound lineman appeared in 35 games for Iowa State between the 2017 and 2019 seasons, compiling 87 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and one pass defended. He appeared in 11 games during his senior campaign, finishing with 28 tackles and 0.5 sacks.
As an undrafted free agent, Lima already faced an uphill battle to make the Dolphins roster. He was one of four undrafted lineman to sign with the Dolphins, and he was competing with the likes of Zach Sieler for reps behind Davon Godchaux and Christian Wilkins.
As Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com notes, the move leaves the Dolphins with 86 players on the roster, so more moves are certainly coming.