Jets To Cut 2019 Third-Round Pick Jachai Polite
Yes, you read that headline correctly. The Jets are cutting Jachai Polite, their third-round pick from just a few months ago (Twitter link via Manish Mehta of the Daily News).
Polite once had first-round buzz, but slipped after bombing at the combine. Mike Maccagnan, the Jets’ former GM who wasn’t fired until after the key parts of free agency and the draft, saw an opportunity for value. New GM Joe Douglas and head coach Adam Gase, meanwhile, saw waiver wire fodder.
“We know some of the risk in [Polite],” Maccagnan said after the draft. “We also think there are some very good qualities about him.”
The Jets certainly could have used Polite’s potential pass rushing ability. He racked up eleven sacks during his final season with the Gators and the Jets finished in the middle of the pack last year with 39 quarterback takedowns.
Polite’s deal was to be a four-year pact worth a total of $3.6MM. It includes a $1.1MM signing bonus. Depending on what happens from here, the Jets could remain on the hook.
Jets Waive Davis Webb
Davis Webb just can’t get any love in the New York/New Jersey area. The Jets have waived the quarterback, as Manish Mehta of the Daily News tweets.
The Jets inked former Broncos starter Trevor Siemian to a one-year, $2MM this offseason, which spelled the beginning of the end for Webb. The Giants’ 2017 third-round pick joined Gang Green off waivers last year, but he has yet to take his first NFL snap. Siemian, meanwhile, has started 24 pro games, and has performed well at times.
Cutting Webb will have no real financial ramifications for the Jets. Dropping Siemian, meanwhile, would have resulted in $1MM in dead money. In any case, the Jets preferred Siemian as Sam Darnold‘s backup, and their QB room is now set for 2019.
Broncos To Cut QB Kevin Hogan
The Broncos will go with a young contingent behind Joe Flacco. Incumbent quarterback Kevin Hogan will not make their 53-man roster, with Mike Klis of 9News reporting (via Twitter) the fourth-year veteran will be cut.
Hogan served as Case Keenum‘s backup for most of last season, catching on with the Broncos via waiver claim. He ascended to the QB2 spot after Chad Kelly‘s release. This year, the Broncos drafted Drew Lock and added Brett Rypien as a UDFA.
Lock is set to miss several weeks due to an injury to his throwing hand, and it looks like Rypien will either become Flacco’s backup or the Broncos will look elsewhere for their top signal-caller reserve. Brian Hoyer did not make the Patriots’ roster. He spent time in new Denver OC Rich Scangarello‘s system in 2017, beginning that season as the 49ers’ starter. The Patriots released Hoyer earlier today.
Hogan is not yet a vested veteran and will head to waivers. He last attempted a regular-season pass for the 2017 Browns.
Patriots Release QB Brian Hoyer
One of the top backup quarterbacks has hit the open market. ESPN’s Adam Caplan reports (via Twitter) that the Patriots are releasing veteran Brian Hoyer.
Tom Brady‘s long-time backup has had a pair of stints with New England, with his most-recent gig dating back to mid-2017. The 33-year-old has seen the field for eight pass attempts over the past two years, completing five passes for 49 yards. Hoyer started games as recently as 2017, and he had 19 touchdowns vs. seven interceptions during his 2015 run with the Texans.
While Hoyer didn’t necessarily do anything to lose his job during the preseason, the Patriots ultimately decided they didn’t want to roll with three quarterbacks. The team will now go forward with rookie fourth-rounder Jarrett Stidham as Brady’s primary backup.
Dolphins Drop Dwayne Allen
The Dolphins have reached an injury settlement with tight end Dwayne Allen and released cornerback Torry Mctyer, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Allen was unable to stay healthy or produce in camp, leading to his late-August release.
“They got younger guys they want to invest more time in,” Allen told ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson (on Twitter). “They decided to let me go, but I appreciate the opportunity that they gave me. There are teams calling, but we will see. I had an offseason knee surgery that I need to heal up from.”
Allen was expected to be a big part of the Dolphins’ offense, but it appears they are comfortable with tight ends Mike Gesicki, Nick O’Leary, and Durham Smythe. Allen, meanwhile, could look for work elsewhere, though he hinted at leaving the NFL altogether.
“I love the game of football. It’s a great gift to all us all, but I will take some time to think about my future,” Allen told Anderson. “I know at some point I want to go back to school.”
Panthers Set 53-Man Roster
The Panthers have officially set their 53-man roster, and there are few major surprises on the list. One of the most notable names is running back Cameron Artis-Payne, who spent the past four years in Carolina. The team also moved on from fellow offensive veteran Aldrick Robinson, who finished last season with five touchdown receptions for the Vikings.
Otherwise, the other notable names include recent draft picks, like 2018 seventh-round wideout Terry Godwin and 2017 fifth-round cornerback Corn Elder.
The rest of the Panthers’ roster moves are below:
Released:
- RB Cameron Artis-Payne
- QB Taylor Heinicke (full story)
- CB Lorenzo Doss
- WR Aldrick Robinson
- LS Andrew DePaola
Waived:
- S Corrion Ballard
- LB Brandon Bell
- S Quin Blanding
- G Tyler Catalina
- C Parker Collins
- G Rishard Cook
- DE Bryan Cox Jr.
- CB Corn Elder
- WR Terry Godwin
- DT Woodrow Hamilton
- G Taylor Hearn
- TE Temarrick Hemingway
- TE Cole Hunt
- DT Bijhon Jackson
- WR Damion Jeanpiere
- WR Andre Levrone
- S Cole Luke
- WR Jaydon Mickens
- LB Jared Norris
- CB Ryan Pulley
- WR Rashad Ross
- LB Sione Teuhema
- CB Josh Thornton
- TE Jason Vander Laan
- WR DeAndrew White
- LB Antwione Williams
- C John Yarbrough
Waived/Injured:
- G Kofi Amichia
- TE Marcus Baugh
- S Damian Parms
Placed on IR:
Dolphins Cut DE Tank Carradine
Tank Carradine‘s tenure with the Dolphins has ended after four preseason games. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that Miami has released the veteran defensive end.
While the 29-year-old ended up sitting out most of the 2018 season, it still sounded like the Dolphins had relatively high hopes for him. After joining the team in February, Carradine started the first three preseason games for Miami, but he was limited to only a single tackle during those appearances. With the Dolphins in the midst of a rebuild, the organization decided to ultimately go with the younger route.
Carradine has yet to live up to his status as a 2013 second-round pick. The edge rusher’s best season came in 2014 when he had three sacks in nine games. However, Carradine has done a decent job of generating pressure off of the edge, despite his low sack totals. In 2017, his production would have placed him among Pro Football Focus’ top 50 edge defenders if he had enough snaps to qualify. Therefore, it wouldn’t be shocking if he catches on with a team in need of defensive-line help.
Redskins To Release Josh Doctson
The Redskins will release wide receiver Josh Doctson after failing to broker a suitable trade, according to Mike Jones of USA Today (on Twitter). Doctson, a former first-round pick, has yet to prove himself at the NFL level, so the lack of overall interest is not shocking.
Doctson has been a rumored trade candidate for some time. The Redskins have shopped him to at least a couple of different teams, but they couldn’t pawn off the 26-year-old or his $3.19MM cap charge.
Doctson has started 26 games over the past two years for Washington, but this has only resulted in 79 total catches for 1,034 yards and eight touchdowns. Last year, he placed 96th out of 107 qualifying wideouts in yards per route run last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
The organization declined the receiver’s fifth-year option this past offseason. Had the Redskins picked up his option, Docston would have been due $10.162MM for the 2020 campaign.
Even without Doctson, the Redskins have a good deal of offensive options, including tight end Jordan Reed (if healthy), running backs Chris Thompson, Adrian Peterson, and Derrius Guice, and receivers Paul Richardson, Trey Quinn, and Terry McLaurin.
Falcons To Sign Matt Bryant
The Falcons are re-signing veteran kicker Matt Bryant, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s a one-year, $3MM deal, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). Bryant retired after parting ways with Atlanta in the offseason, but he’ll return at the age of 44 to handle Atlanta’s kicking duties.
Bryant will take over the job that was supposed to belong to either Giorgio Tavecchio or Blair Walsh this year. Both kickers struggled in practice – with Walsh having serious hiccups in full view of the press earlier this week – so Bryant will go from the couch to the field to solidify their special teams.
Bryant, 44, nailed 95.2% of his field goal tries for the Falcons last year, but the Falcons elected to save money by declining his 2019 option. Now, Bryant will resume work in Atlanta for his eleventh-straight season with the club.
Texans To Trade Jadeveon Clowney To Seahawks
The Jadeveon Clowney era in Houston has come to an end. The Texans and Seahawks have agreed to a trade that will send the star edge rusher to Seattle. Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com tweets that the Texans will receive a 2020 third-rounder, defensive end Barkevious Mingo, and linebacker Jacob Martin.
While the deal is all but “done” according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter), there are a few formalities that need to be taken care of. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that Clowney is currently in Seattle to sign his franchise tender, which would enable Houston to trade him. Clowney, Mingo, and Martin will also need to pass physicals before the deal’s completed. We learned earlier today that the two sides had been progressing towards a deal.
The move makes plenty of sense for the Seahawks. Seattle doesn’t have to commit to a new Clowney deal until the offseason, allowing them to evaluate his fit on the team. Further, if the edge rusher ends up leaving in free agency, they’re likely land a 2021 third-round compensatory draft pick. While the organization will have to fit Clowney’s $15.9MM tag charge into their $25MM in cap space (the team cleared $4MM by trading Mingo), it was still clearly worth the “risk.”
Considering the Seahawks’ need for pass-rushing, Clowney’s desire to play in Seattle, and the minimal asking price, there’s really no risk at all. While the Seahawks did add defensive end Ziggy Ansah, they moved on from veteran Frank Clark. The team will also be without defensive tackle Jarran Reed for the first six games due to suspension, necessitating their need for help up front.
The Texans were somewhat stuck behind a rock and a hard place when it came to the Clowney trade talks. The 26-year-old did have a bit of leverage regarding where he could land, and it apparently worked. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald tweets that the Dolphins and Texans were well on their way to hammering out a deal. When Clowney refused to play in Miami, it allowed one of his preferred suitors to swoop in.
In other words, the Texans did relatively well considering the circumstances. Most teams would purely view Clowney as a rental, so a third-rounder is fine value for an impending free agent. Plus, while Martin may not be a recognizable player, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that one GM gushed about the player’s motor. The 2018 sixth-round pick had nine tackles and three sacks as a rookie.
Mingo, a former first-rounder, has bounced around the NFL during his six-year career. He started a career-high 14 games for Seattle in 2018, compiling 48 tackles and two forced fumbles.