Cardinals To Trade Josh Rosen To Dolphins
Josh Rosen is headed out of Arizona after one season. The Dolphins will be the team that pulls the trigger on the former top-10 pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
It turns out, the Dolphins’ recent trade-down maneuver proved key. The Dolphins will trade their recently acquired No. 62 overall pick to the Cardinals, Schefter added. The teams had discussed the former UCLA quarterback most of the day, with the Cardinals having initially asked for the Dolphins’ first-round pick. Miami then balked at its No. 48 overall choice, but now the teams have agreed. And Rosen and Kyler Murray will not be teammates.
With the pick, the Cardinals selected wideout Andy Isabella out of UMass. The Cardinals will also receive a 2020 fifth-round pick, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
While Rosen’s stock has taken a massive hit after a rough rookie season — when he rated across the board as Football Outsiders’ worst full-time quarterback, albeit in a bad situation — the Dolphins landing a 2018 No. 10 overall pick for the 2019 62nd selection could be immense value. As far as traditional stats go, the 6-foot-4 passer finished with 2,278 yards in 13 games, throwing 11 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions as a 21-year-old rookie.
Kliff Kingsbury said multiple times this offseason Rosen was his quarterback, and the 2018 Cards’ starter reported for the team’s offseason workouts. But the long-rumored Murray pick happened, making the Cardinals the first team since the 1982-83 Baltimore Colts to select first-round quarterbacks in back-to-back years. A day later, Rosen is bound for south Florida.
Rosen, though, is going to a roster that may be worse off than his most recent one. The Dolphins have made no secret of the fact they are rebuilding, and many veterans that were part of the 2018 Miami outfit are no longer there. Contract-wise, this also represents value. Rosen is owed less than $7MM through 2021.
The Dolphins signed Ryan Fitzpatrick, and it is possible the veteran remains their Week 1 starter. Rosen could be allowed to further develop behind Fitzpatrick, but it is fairly safe to assume the formerly coveted prospect will see extensive time this season.
The Redskins and Giants represented the other main players for Rosen, but both NFC East teams took quarterbacks on Thursday night. Miami did not, drafting defensive lineman Christian Wilkins instead. The Broncos traded up in front of the Dolphins on Thursday, grabbing Drew Lock. That may have been the final impetus for the Fins to offer a second-round pick for their possible long-term quarterback solution.
Rams Deal No. 56 Pick To Chiefs
The Chiefs will make their first pick of the 2019 draft, moving up five spots via the Rams. Los Angeles will collect a fifth-round pick (No. 167) to move back five spots at the end of Round 2.
Kansas City’s pick at No. 56 appears to indicate, as should be expected, Tyreek Hill will soon be out of the picture. The Chiefs chose Georgia wideout/return man Mecole Hardman, who zoomed to a 4.33-second 40-yard dash time this offseason.
It has not been a good week for Kansas City, but the team still does feature one of the league’s best rosters. It’s interesting the Chiefs did not use this pick on their defense, which still has holes, but Hill’s latest ugly off-field chapter created a major need at receiver.
Hardman caught 35 passes for 543 yards last season. He will likely be tabbed to develop and possibly step in for one of the NFL’s best players, one who has encountered more legal trouble and is likely soon to be a former Chief.
If/once Hill is waived, it will mark a rather astounding reboot for Kansas City’s offense. Both Hill and Kareem Hunt were integral parts of the Chiefs’ loaded 2018 skill-position corps. Kansas City brought in Carlos Hyde to help stabilize the post-Hunt backfield; Hardman appears to be a key component of the post-Hill equation at wide receiver.
Dolphins Ship No. 48 Pick To Saints
The Dolphins will acquire more draft capital, dealing the No. 48 overall pick to the Saints. This will involve three picks coming back to Miami.
Involved in dealing high draft choices in recent years, the Saints will send picks 62 and 200 in this draft to the Dolphins. New Orleans will also part with a 2020 second-rounder to move up 14 spots in this year’s second round. The Saints will also collect a Dolphins 2019 fourth-rounder (No. 116).
And the Saints will use this selection to add center Erik McCoy. Max Unger‘s retirement has now preceded New Orleans signing Nick Easton and using its only pick in the first four rounds to add one of this draft’s top interior linemen.
For the Dolphins, this may keep their Josh Rosen talks alive. They were reluctant to part with the No. 48 pick for Rosen, but with the team dropping in this year’s second round and adding a 2020 Round 2 pick, perhaps the Fins and Cardinals can come to an agreement.
Rams Trade No. 45 Choice To Patriots
The Patriots are moving up into the middle portion of the second round, with their most recent Super Bowl opponent providing the avenue to do so.
The Rams agreed to deal the No. 45 pick to the Pats. In exchange, the defending NFC champions will receive the Pats’ No. 56 pick and a third-rounder (No. 101). With the pick, New England will choose Vanderbilt cornerback Joejuan Williams.
This marks the Rams’ second trade-down maneuver of this draft. They moved out of their first-round window (No. 31 overall) Thursday night.
New England has continued to enjoy success despite letting cornerbacks walk in free agency. Following the exits of Logan Ryan and Malcolm Butler, the Pats cobbled together another strong secondary to shut down the Rams in Super Bowl LIII. Williams joins a group featuring Stephon Gilmore, Jason McCourty, J.C. Jackson and 2018 second-rounder Duke Dawson.
Broncos Trade Up For Drew Lock
The Broncos will be making back-to-back picks in Round 2. They will send the Bengals two late-round picks to do so.
Denver will ship Cincinnati fourth- and sixth-round picks, along with No. 52 overall, to move into position to go back-to-back. After choosing Kansas State offensive lineman Dalton Risner with the No. 41 overall selection, the Broncos traded up to take Drew Lock.
Linked to the Missouri-developed quarterback before their Joe Flacco trade, the Broncos indeed made the move. Mentioned by many to be headed to the Broncos at No. 10 overall, the four-year college starter will head to Denver as Flacco’s backup 32 picks later. The Broncos moved ahead of the Dolphins, Lions and Packers — who each visited with Lock — in this deal.
While Flacco lost his job to 2018 No. 32 overall pick Lamar Jackson, the Broncos may be eyeing a longer-term developmental project by getting Lock here. John Elway mentioned the 2020 quarterback crop. A second-round quarterback investment this year probably doesn’t remove the Broncos from that discussion, but Lock’s development will now heavily factor into their decision on that front.
Lock completed a career-high 63 percent of his throws last season, and as a junior in 2017, the Kansas City, Mo., native threw 44 touchdown passes. Certainly, this will put Flacco — who has no guaranteed money left on his deal — under far more pressure than it appeared he would be coming into Round 2.
Raiders Trade No. 38 Pick To Bills
Rookie Raiders GM Mike Mayock moved down again, this time agreeing to a second-round trade with the Bills.
Buffalo moved into Oakland’s No. 38 slot, coming up from No. 40. The Raiders will acquire a fifth-round pick (No. 158) in the deal. The Bills used the move up to select Oklahoma offensive lineman Cody Ford. This comes shortly after the Raiders dealt their No. 35 overall pick to the Jaguars.
This continues a massive offensive line overhaul in Buffalo. The Bills’ 2019 offensive line group will feature almost an entirely new cast. Mitch Morse, Ty Nsekhe, Spencer Long and LaAdrian Waddle.
The Bills still have Dion Dawkins, 2018 fifth-rounder Wyatt Teller on the roster and Russell Bodine on the roster, but their group will look quite different next season. Profiling as perhaps a tackle or guard, Ford — a 2018 first-team All-Big 12 selection at Oklahoma — joins what’s become an all-out makeover.
Raiders Trade No. 35 Pick To Jaguars
The Jaguars made the first trade of Friday night, moving up into the No. 35 overall slot. The Raiders, as GM Mike Mayock said they were considering, traded out of the slot.
Oakland will receive the No. 38 overall pick and No. 109 (a fourth-rounder). Jacksonville selected tackle Jawaan Taylor. The Jags will acquire fifth- and seventh-round picks (Nos. 140 and 235) in this deal.
Taylor was mocked by some to the Jaguars in the first round, so while the Florida blocker endured a bit of a tumble, the team adding a first-round-caliber lineman — in the view of some — in Round 2 represents solid value.
The Jags cut right tackle Jermey Parnell this offseason; left tackle Cam Robinson is coming off a season-ending ACL tear. While Jacksonville added Cedric Ogbuehi and Leonard Wester, Taylor should be considered a strong candidate to be an early-season starter.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/26/19
Texans Pick Up Will Fuller’s Fifth-Year Option
The Texans have picked up wide receiver Will Fuller‘s fifth-year option, per Mark Berman of Fox 26 KRIV (via Twitter). Fuller is now under club control through 2020, and his 2020 salary — which is guaranteed for injury only — will be $10.1MM (unless the two sides work out an extension before then).
This decision further supports a report from earlier this month that Fuller is expected to make a full recovery from the ACL tear he suffered last year. Indeed, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reiterated today (via Twitter) that Fuller, who is one of the game’s best deep threats, should be ready for the 2019 opener.
Fuller, whom the Texans selected in the first round of the 2016 draft, averaged a career-high 15.7 yards per reception in seven games last season before tearing his ACL. During that time, he posted 32 catches for 503 yards and four touchdowns and reeled in 71.% percent of all passes thrown to him by Deshaun Watson.
If he can stay healthy this season, he could position himself nicely for a long-term deal.
Titans To Sign DL Brent Urban
The Titans have agreed to sign Brent Urban, according to a team announcement. It’s a one-year deal, tweets Paul Kuharksy. The deal comes roughly ten days after Urban first visited with the team. Better late than never, as they say.
The Titans are clearly committed to boosting the defensive line after drafting defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons in the first round and adding Urban. At 6’7 and 300 pounds, Urban gives the Titans size and experience up front.
Last year, Urban started 16 games for the Ravens and finished with 27 tackles and a half sack. Across four pro seasons, he has appeared in 41 games with 52 tackles in total. His numbers don’t jump off the page, but he did grade out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 49 ranked interior defender in 2018 thanks to his solid run defense.